Promise

-L U C K-

***
Adealia's POV

Draco's chest was rising and falling shallowly, his lungs seemed to be constricting with fear while his pained gray eyes stared into mine.

One hand at the nape of my neck, the other cupping my face as his thumb ran slow races across my cheekbone.

The empty dungeon classroom hung heavily with thick silence as I leaned back against the desk behind me. The air was alive with a sharp chill, running over the exposed skin on my stomach that my cropped Hogwarts sweatshirt didn't quite cover. I didn't know how much longer he could keep me here, but I knew he would as long as he was able.

Anything to keep me away from the Quidditch Pitch.

His hands were freezing. He was trying to hide his body's need to tremble as he moved, putting his hands on either side of me to hold his weight on the desk as he rested his forehead against mine.

My heart hummed anxiously. From him being with me, and in anticipation for tonight.

My body was warm with exhilaration. My coat laid lazily on the chair next to us, waiting to be used against the freezing January air.

Draco sighed heavily, as if the words he spoke were sinking him deeper with every millimeter his lungs expanded. "I can't tell you where I'm going. But know that I'll be here when you wake up darling." His minty breath floated into my senses, sending goosebumps up my spine.

"You better be," I pushed him playfully as I teased- trying to break the tension.

But my heart was fossilized with fear. Why couldn't he tell me? What was he doing that he would keep from me?

He closed his eyes, his eyebrows furrowing with knowing defeat before the question even came out of his mouth. "Are you sure I can't convince you not to go tonight? To stay in your dorm? Or even go home for the night? You could see Margaret."
His voice didn't let his desperation through. The words came out softly, like he was asking me to go to Hogsmede.

Not asking me to skip Ro's last task.

I sighed softly, my heart twinged at the exhale. "I'm going." I whispered firmly. "And I can't convince you to tell me where you and Snape are going... or what you're doing?"

He exhaled through his nose, swallowing hard. "No." He paused, his voice coming back pained. "I wish I could darling. I wish I could more than anything."

I glided my hands over his neck and into his hair, pausing one as he nuzzled his face into my palm.

He looked so tired. I was tired of everyone looking so tired. Exhausted. Anxious. Stressed. Terrified.

I gently pulled his face down to mine, my heart swelling to a point of my eyes prickling with tears who's reason I couldn't quite place.

Our lips gently brushed, both cool from the low dungeon temperature, and pressed into each other's for warmth. Molding with loving familiarity, unthawing the fear that had frozen us to near paralysis.

His hand ran down to the small of my back and pulled me a few inches closer to him. We both inhaled deeply at the same time, taking in the scent of each other before we had to part and go to our obligations.

Mine- Ro's final task.

Draco's- He couldn't... or wouldn't tell me.

Every kiss had been filled with need and desperation lately. It felt like our world was collapsing around us. Stones and debris falling, coming to crush us at any moment.