Tʜᴇ Dᴀʀᴋ Lᴏʀᴅ's Aɴɢᴇʟ | Tom Riddle √

93: Nocturnal Solace

Cassiopeia Black made her way to Draco's dorm, the weight of the day still heavy on her shoulders as she closed the door behind her. She called out for him, "Draco??"

"Bathroom!!" He yelled from the bathroom, his voice echoing in the room.

She sighed and walked over to Blaise's bed. This had become a routine after Blaise and Pansy took over her dorm for their romantic escapades.

Cassiopeia had already warned them not to engage in any intimate activities on her bed. Today, she had returned to her dorm, only to find it locked and devoid of any sounds. They had likely cast spells to ensure privacy and silence.

"I haven't talked with Blaise properly at night for weeks," Draco remarked while Cassiopeia removed her boots. "Those two are like magnets."

"I know right," she chuckled in agreement.

As she raised her head, she met Draco, clad only in a towel around his waist, with no upper body clothing. He shook his head, causing droplets of water to fall onto her face.

"What the heck, Malfoy? Go and put something on," she scolded, her annoyance evident.

Frowning, she opened the dresser to find some clothes. Because of their best friends, she had kept a few clothes in the boys' dorm.

"I thought you see me as a sexy boy," Draco teased as Cassiopeia rolled her eyes. "I really like to make you pissy."

"Nice," she replied sarcastically. "Whatever, put something on when I come out of the bathroom."

Cassiopeia sauntered into the bathroom and took a warm shower, disliking Draco's mint shampoo, which she had to use when staying in the boys' dorm. It was a hassle to bring her own things back and forth.

"I'm going for patrol, Cassie," Draco's voice echoed from outside, knocking on the bathroom door.

"Noted," she yelled back, continuing her shower.

It took around forty-five minutes for her to finish, and when she emerged, she found Draco still hadn't returned.

Deciding to make use of her time, she started working on her homework at Draco's table. Time passed, and she completed her studies, but there was still no sign of Draco.

Midnight had arrived, and feeling exhausted, she decided to get some rest.

Cassiopeia had no idea how long she'd been sleeping when she was jolted awake by the sound of someone sobbing.

"Please, do—don't," the voice trembled. "I don't want."

It didn't take her long to realize that the voice belonged to Draco. Swiftly, she got out of bed and, bathed in moonlight, she could see his perspiring face. He was having nightmares, once again.

Draco suffered from these nightly torments almost every night, and Cassiopeia had woken up to his distressed mumbling on previous occasions. However, this time was different.

"I—I ca—cannot, father," he cried, tears streaming down his face.

This time, Cassiopeia felt an overwhelming urge to confront her uncle for his part in Draco's suffering. It was her uncle who had led Draco down the path of becoming a Death Eater, and it was the cause of his ongoing trauma.

"Draco," she sat on his bed, gently running her fingers through his blonde hair. "Draco, wake up."

She always tried to approach him gently to avoid startling him during his nightmares. This time, luckily, he opened his eyes and sat up, panting heavily.

"I told you to come to St. Mungo's with me," she said, squeezing his shoulder. "Shall we do it during the summer holidays?"

Draco sobbed, his tear-filled eyes averted. "I can't, I'm scared. No one knows this, I haven't told Mum even. Last time, I cast Muffliato in my room."

Cassiopeia, her voice filled with empathy, reassured him. "It's okay to cry or be scared, Draco. We all are humans."

"But if my father knows, he won't tell me like that," he confessed, lowering his head onto her shoulder. "He might say I'm pathetic."

"You aren't," she insisted, wrapping her arms around him. "Just because he tells you that, you are not pathetic. Then I'm also a pathetic one to cry having nightmares."

"I don't know," he muffled into her shoulder. "Don't leave me. Please stay with me."

Cassiopeia felt a deep sadness welling up within her. Every night, Draco endured these nightmares, and she could do nothing to help. He was even reluctant to seek treatment from St. Mungo's Hospital.

"Does Blaise know about this?" she inquired, considering that they were roommates.

"I use curtains when I'm sleeping and casting spells," Draco met her gaze, wiping away tears with his pajama sleeve. "I cannot show them I'm weak."

"Draco, if there's a problem, you should communicate," Cassiopeia gently patted his thigh. "Silence isn't the solution. Telling someone doesn't make you weak."

"That's why I'm telling you, Cassie," Draco sighed. "Can you lay with me, please?"

They used to sleep together when they were children, but Cassiopeia had avoided it since the incident in year four. However, seeing Draco's current state, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

"Okay," she relented as he moved to the wall side. "I'll stay awake until you sleep, okay?"

He nodded and lay flatly, with Cassiopeia turning to his side to watch over him. She gently patted his chest to help calm him.

"I'm sorry for bothering you, Casse," he spoke, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. "I never wanted to. You are always there with me even if there's something wrong with me. But I'm the opposite."

"Shhh," she crooned soothingly. "That's okay, sleep now."

He sighed, closing his eyes. Cassiopeia wiped the remaining tears from his face with the back of her hand and pulled the sheet over both of them. She continued to pat his chest until she heard his slight snore.

In the quiet darkness, she observed Draco. His face appeared pale, and dark bags clung beneath his eyes, a testament to his restless nights.

Seeing him like this weighed heavily on her heart. He was the one who found amusement in almost anything, even teasing Gryffindors. Yet every night, he grappled with these relentless nightmares.

Cassiopeia couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she had never dreamt of Tom. Perhaps she would have been there for Draco, protecting him from the darkness that haunted him. Maybe she wouldn't have endured the torment of loving Tom during those days.

But she also realized that everything happened for a reason, and fate was beyond their control. Her destiny was intertwined with Tom's dark side, while Draco's destiny led him into the depths of darkness.

"Until death do us part, I will always bethere for you, Draco," she whispered softly to the slumbering figurebeside her.