Pureblood (Lucius Malfoy) *COMPLETED*

CHAPTER 20 - STRUGGLES

It had been a week since I had been attacked.

After the incident in the shower, I had realised that I had started to hallucinate, seeing my attacker everywhere I went. The first couple of days, it was bad. I saw him frequently - in windows, in mirrors, every time I closed my eyes... It even came to the point where I would be sat with Lucius, resting tiredly against his chest but not daring to close my eyes as I stared at him in the corner of the room. He would be holding his dagger, crossing his throat with it as if to mimic my death.

Then, I would tightly squeeze my eyes shut, nestling my face into Lucius's neck, and he would hold me close, not saying a word as he rested his cheek on my head. He knew of my hallucinations, as he had read my mind many times, seeing the same image I saw. But he also knew I didn't like to talk about it, so he wouldn't touch on the subject. He would just keep me close, reading my thoughts until he knew I could no longer see him.

Then, he could relax.

Lucius had helped me a lot afterwards, dressing me when I felt to weak to do so myself, regularly making us both meals, and never leaving my side. To my surprise, he was extremely helpful considering he had spent his whole life being looked after by either servants or house elves. Nonetheless, I had appreciated it deeply, and I let him know that. It was regular for us to be sat together now, me often sat in his arms whilst he held me. We didn't really talk much - we didn't need to.

It was like we understood each other without words. If I rested my head against his shoulder, he knew I was tired. Or, if I had left him to do something, which was rare, when I returned, he would watch me closely before I sat back in his arms, letting him kiss my head lightly. He didn't like to leave me alone, and part of me knew he was feeling guilty because of what happened. I didn't blame him though - how was he to know? And after all, he was the one who saved me.

I had tried not to think about it, but I couldn't help but wonder where the body was. I wanted nothing more than to forget the whole thing, but that same question kept nagging me, keeping me awake at night.

Where was it?

I had been sat with Lucius on the carpet in the living room, him resting against the arm of the sofa and me curled up next to him, his arms around my waist. We had been sat there comfortably, enjoying the warmth of the fire he had lit in the fireplace when the question first came to mind. Though I didn't mean for him to, Lucius had heard my thoughts, pulling me closer and sighing into my hair.

"It's nothing you need to worry about, Princess..." is all he said.

And after that, nothing more was said in the matter.

Now, we're sat on the sofa, feeling particularly tired today. I rest my head on Lucius's shoulder, his arm around my waist pulling me closer to him. I stroke Scorpion's furry head whilst me and Lucius watch him yawn before standing up from my lap and stretching his legs. I smile at his cuteness, letting him settle back on my lap, his head resting on my thigh. "Clever dog..." I whisper, lifting my head and scratching behind his ears, which I had recently discovered was his favourite place to be petted.

If it wasn't for him, Lucius would never had found me. And God forbid, a lot worse could have happened. He rubs his head against my hand, showing me he likes it as I laugh, resting my head back on Lucius's shoulder. He moves his face lower, so his nose is in my hair as he speaks softly, "Are you tired?"

I sigh, turning my head towards his chest as I close my eyes. "A little..."

It was late, I knew that. About 11 or 12. The sky had been dark for hours now, no light coming through the window, the room dark and dimly lit, just the way I liked it. I blink as I try to remember how long we had been sat here. I recall sitting down with Lucius a few hours earlier, when it was just getting dark. And then Scorpion had came along, barking gleefully as he jumped up onto the sofa next to us, resting as he was tired from running around all day. Lucius had let him out in the fields for the morning, half hoping he wouldn't come back. But he did.