Professor Malfoy

sixteen

"Hello darling."

Amelia felt as if someone had just dumped a cold bucket of water on her. 

"Draco...I-"

He slowly approached her, hands in his pockets. 

Taking his left hand out, he took the backside of it and stroked her cheek. 

Amelia closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.

"So you still yearn for my touch, hm?" 

Amelia narrowed her eyes and stepped back, she did not answer. Because, frankly, she didn't know what to say.

She could tell him the truth, but he'd just willfully give up his career, his life, everything. Just for her. 

And she couldn't ask that of him. 

"Amelia, surely you know why you're here," His voice deepened, "Tell me what happened? What changed your feelings?"

She sighed, "Draco, there is no point. We are done. It doesn't help to ask questions, or wish things were different."

He scoffed angrily, "Bullshit. There is something you're not telling me. Thankfully, we've got all night. Everyone is distracted by the ball, which by the way, you look lovely."

A blush creeped upon her cheeks, though she willed it not to. 

Draco walked to the fireplace and stood before it, facing the flame.

"You have no idea what these past few weeks have been like for me. Every night I lie awake wondering what went wrong? I try to pin point the exact moment where maybe you lost feelings. But guess what Amelia? I can't,"

He turned to face her.

"Which means, it probably doesn't exist. You probably still do have feelings for me, and there is some other variable at play that I am unaware of."

Oh, if only he knew what she felt. 

"For you to sit there, and not offer me an explanation of why you chose to end, what is obviously a match designed by the Gods, is not only suspicious but fucking cruel. And I know, you're not that heartless."

Amelia could feel the pressure building in her chest, "Ugh!" She screamed, "You're so fucking frustrating!"

Draco looked taken aback by her outburst but quickly regained his composure and became irritated, "Me? Is that a fucking joke? I give you my heart and soul, and you give it right back and go, 'Hm, no thanks'?"

She began to rotate her middle fingers on her temple, "Draco, it is not that simple." 

Suddenly, he grabbed her at her arms and gave her a little shake, "Then bloody tell me! Explain why it's not."

No longer able to hold back her tears, Amelia collapsed against Draco's chest and began to sob. Draco slowly rubbed circles on her back and tried to soothe her. 

"Shh, there there darling. Take a breath, and just tell me. The sooner you do, the sooner I can fix it."

Amelia's chest heaved as she tried to calm herself, "I didn't want to, surely you know that I care for you beyond measure. But...he made me."

Draco pulled her from his chest, "Who made you?"

"My brother Cardan, he saw an owl bring me one of your letters and remembered Andrew Stagheart had told him I was seeing someone, and then he kind of put the pieces together."

Draco face hardened, and he looked past her trying to find words.

"He became furious, and threatened to write the school and get you fired if I didn't end things. Oh Draco, I'm so sorry. I just knew you'd try and fix things and would end up sacrificing everything you've worked for." Amelia began to cry again, but Draco thumbed away her tears.