NUMB WITHOUT YOU | Draco Malfoy

| 36

The sun had not even risen yet in the morning sky, but I was wide awake with the feeling of an arm wrapped around me tightly and a head gently nestled into the crook of my neck. Draco's warm breath tickled my skin and when I moved, he only held on to me tighter. I shifted my body to get a better look at him. He was still sleeping soundly. I watched as his bare chest rose and fell slowly while I ran my fingers through his soft hair.

Evidently sometime during the night he decided it was best to not be angry with me anymore. I was still upset about everything to be sure, but was willing to let it go for a spare moment of peace. They were so few and far between as it was these days that I wasn't going to take small moments for granted anymore because they were so fleeting.

I gently kissed Draco's forehead before sweeping his hair to cover it again and slid out of his grasp so I could get dressed. I was ready to go to explore the property before anyone else could get up and stop me. I wasn't about to sit inside all day and feel trapped in this luxurious prison Malfoy had procured. With all of England's finest Aurors likely on the hunt for us, even I had to admit this was our safest option for the time being.

The vineyard was directly outside the back doors. Walking past rows and rows of grapes, I carelessly plucked a few as I went and plopped them into my mouth. I found myself getting annoyed at how perfect they were. The Malfoy's did not half-ass anything, not even grapes. Somewhere along my walk I heard a funny little humming noise, and decided to follow it to its source. I found a house elf singing to herself as she picked grapes diligently.

"Oh, hello." I said warmly, trying my best to sound friendly. It had been a long time since I had a conversation with a house elf, and I remembered far too late just how skittish they could be.

"WAAH!" She shouted and threw her basket of grapes everywhere. A few of them pelted me in the chest before falling to the ground as she covered her face and cowered from me.

"Dipsy is very busy working!" The house elf trembled. "Dipsy needs to keep working!"

"I didn't mean to disturb you! I didn't know the Malfoys still had house elves." I said to her as I stooped down to help her pick up the grapes that she had spilled and put them back in her basket.

"Dipsy is employed!" She stomped her foot. "Dipsy works very hard at Dipsy's job for pay that is considerable. Dipsy is very grateful to Mistress Malfoy."

I looked at her curiously and finally took notice of the elf's bright pink dress with white daisies all over it and a matching pair of white sandals. She wore it proudly.

"Well of course you work hard. I wouldn't expect anything less." I smiled politely and looked around, "Are there more house elves under employment here? This seems like a lot of work for just one."

"Yes! Dipsy likes to get an early start in the mornings so Dipsy can get the afternoons off while the rest work in the heat." She said as she returned to her work.

"I know the feeling." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. It got tangled in all the knots that I neglected to brush out in my haste to get outside and explore. "I'm an early riser too."

"Dipsy remembers." Dipsy said as she looked at me intently, "Dipsy recognizes you from the manor. Miss Aurora Dolohov. The girl that comes inside through Master Draco's window to avoid detection."

My face got hot. I can't believe a house elf was making me blush, "Ah, yes, of course. Dipsy. I definitely remember you now from when I was a teenager. You caught me many, many times. I always appreciated your discretion."

"Dipsy always told Miss Narcissa." the elf told me, "Dipsy never keeps secrets from her."

"Oh, never mind then." I laughed awkwardly, "I can see that freedom has been very good to you."