Keeping me Sane {Draco Malfoy}

0.50: Welcome to The Quidditch World Cup

•YEAR THREE•

Someone was crying.

I looked around the classroom, it almost sounded like Ginny. But Ginny shouldn't be here- she isn't even in this cla- My eyes snap to the Casket, the sobbing was sounding from the Casket. The closer I got, the louder it became.

And as I peered inside, my heart shattered. Ron was in the casket, he looked pale, angelic. His face rested with a subtle smile, he looked at ease, but I've never been in such pain before.

I turned to the crowd of students in search for the alive red haired boy. Each, and every one of them were shouting at me, but they made no noise. It was being drowned out by Ginnys weeping, I couldn't be saved. I feel isolated, I feel helpless. They each declared various things to do, and when I latched eyes with Ron is when I felt saved.

"Riddikulus." I breathe, feeling unable to raise my voice any louder. I felt constricted within my fear, and it was getting tighter with each second.

That's when everything felt okay.

Ron now laid on his bed, snoring. Loudly. It was absolutely horrid, and I felt bad for him, truly.

"Next!" Professor Lupin called over his students uncontainable laughter to the following person in line, and as I went to join the back of the line where Draco was standing, Ron intercepted by grabbing my hand.

"What was that then?" He snaps, his voice pitching higher than normal. "That was bloody embarrassing." He covers his face from his peers with the hood of his robe.

"Oh come on Ronald, that wasn't the point." I retort and his face softens.

He looks to me with a saddened expression as he acknowledges that my biggest fear is his death. Ginny's never ending cries seemed to represent my fear of no recovery, always being reminded and isolated within his death.

"I know, I'm sorry." He sighs, pulling me into a comforting hug. His hugs always meant the world to me, he meant the world to me.

•••

The Quidditch World Cup. It was time, and Ron was ecstatic, or so I assumed. I wasn't seated beside him, I was sitting on the opposing side of the Ministers Box with the Malfoy's.

The chairs were heavily cushioned, I could practically fall asleep in them. We were facing an empty Quidditch Pitch as of now, other viewers were still finding their seats to fill the stadium.

"Come with me to the Concession?" Draco suggests, sounding more reserved and polite in the presence of his parents.

I nod, and as I stand I feel like someone's watching me. My parents are indulged in a conversation with Lucius and Narcissa, so I look behind me, locking eyes with Ron. He looked confused, and somewhat betrayed, though he knew I had no choice as to
where my seats were. He should know if I could have chosen, I would have sat with him. I give Ron a short wave accompanied with a smile, which he thankfully returns despite his questioning look.

"Milburn." Draco snaps, his impatience getting the best of him. Lucius takes notice of his tone, glancing up to him with a disapproving look. He returns to his conversation with my mother, which they hush to a lower volume as I pass by.

"Do you know what they were talking about?" I ask Draco as we traverse through the Stadium. He shrugs as a response, unwilling to delve further into the subject.

"Are you staying with us for the night?" He asks, his eyes trained on the array of candies in front of us.

"I'm staying with the Weasleys." I hummed as I picked up a Liquorice Wand. Draco raised his eyebrow as he nudged my side, his eyes flickering down to the wand in confusion.

"You hate liquorice." He murmurs.

"It's not for me." I reply simply, digging through my pocket for the appropriate change to give to worker. "It's for- Ronald." I grumble, collecting the right change is proving more difficult than I thought.

Draco rolls his eyes, handing the worker a few galleons as he guides me away from the cart. His one hand is on the small of my back, which he retracts as we reach the stairs. A handful of candies are in his other hand, and as he walks he shoves them into his pocket.

"This isn't even for me, you didn't have to do that." I say, letting out a grateful sigh as he slows his walking pace.

"Consider it charity." Draco smiles politely at Viktor Krum, who's attention is trained on me rather than returning Draco's smile. My heart flutters as we pass, he's just so handsome.

"That was-"

"Don't act surprised," Draco cuts me off, his eyes are trained on my cheeks as they've tinged pink. "We're not seated in these seats to act surprised when we see the players." He advises, a pretentious tone to his voice.

"Where's the fun in that?" I grin in disbelief as we stop outside the entrance to the Minister's Box. "And I am surprised, I only ever expected to see him from miles away." I shrug, pressing my palm flatly against the door to push it open. The room is full of chatter, seamlessly masking Draco's and my entrance.

As I split off from Draco to approach Ron, Lucius watches with a scowl. He's never appreciated the fact that I've remained friends with the Weasley's despite their efforts to manoeuvre me to Draco's inner-circle. It's odd to be kept away from one another as children, only to be encouraged later on.

"Ron." I whisper, tapping his shoulder. He breaks off a heated argument with Percy as he turns to face me, his eyes drop down to the Liquorice in my hand.

"It's modelled after Viktor Krum's wand." I preface as I give it to him, the two of us simultaneously admire it. "You won't believe it, I actually passed him on my way back with Dra-"

"Bloody hell, you didn't! Did he notice you?" He cuts me off, bursting with excitement, and questions as I suddenly have his undivided attention.

"Yes! He-"

"Cassidy." My mother's voice cascades across the room, she silently greets Ron with a soft smile. "The games are starting soon." She points out, and beside her Lucius nods approvingly. His firm expression aside my mother's guilt ridden eyes makes it clear that she didn't mind my conversation with Ron, but Lucius did.