𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐝𝐞 || 𝐃.𝐌

Chapter 21 - Watch me

*Christmas morning*

Ivory's POV:

We gathered around the dining table, savoring the Christmas breakfast prepared by the house elves. Narcissa turned to me with a warm smile and asked, "How are you finding it here so far, Ivory?"

"Feels like home..." I replied, offering a small smile in her direction. She nodded graciously. "I'm glad to hear that."

Once we finished our meal, we made our way to the living room. Draco promptly lit the fireplace, and the rich scent of freshly burned cedar wood filled the air. Narcissa followed by lighting several candles, their fragrance of mahogany apples adding a comforting touch. The atmosphere within the manor shifted almost instantly. Yet, beneath the serene ambiance, there remained a subtle tension between Lucius and Draco, that never seemed to disappear.

I extended my arm to reach for my cup of tea on the coffee table, but my hands were slightly unsteady, causing me to knock it over. "I'm so sorry, I'll help clean it up." I stammered.

Lucius let out an annoyed sigh, while Narcissa quickly called Dobby over to clean it up. "It's not a problem, dear. It's only tea."

Still, the sight of the stained carpet made me feel a surge of guilt. I couldn't help but think how my parents would have reacted if I had made such a mistake at home. Dobby hurried over with cleaning supplies, his eyes widening as he noticed me. "Mrs. Greenwood... what are you doing at the Manor?" he exclaimed in surprise.

My eyes widened in surprise. "I'll handle it, you can go." I said quickly, still puzzled by how Dobby had recognized me. The last time he had seen me was years ago, back when he visited our house several times a week. He handed me the towels, and I gave him a pointed look, silently signaling him not to speak and to leave the room.

Draco remained silent during the entire situation, then quietly excused himself from the living room. I bend down to begin cleaning the carpet. It took a good 3 minutes to get the stain out.

As I leaned over, my sleeves rolled up slightly, revealing a part of my arm. The instant I felt Lucius's gaze on me, I quickly pulled them back down. It seemed as though he was about to say something when Draco returned just in time. Lucius cleared his throat, and with a slight nod, excused himself from the room.

*The end of break*

I woke up to find Draco already packing our trunks. Stretching my arms, I sat up and looked at him. "Babe, why are you packing already? It's only 08:15.'' I said, glancing at the clock. He gave me a familiar look, one I knew too well. His eyes filled with anxiety and fear.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, concern creeping into my voice.

''I need to get you out of here.'' he mumbled as he kept packing.

"Draco, please, come here." I extended my arms toward him, and after a moment, he walked over to me. I could feel the tension radiating from him, and I knew he desperately needed comfort.

"It never felt like home here." he replied quietly.

I cupped his cheeks gently. "It's over now, Draco. And I'm still here with you, and I'm perfectly safe." I reassured him.

"Please stay with me forever." He gave a kiss on my forehead.

''Until the very end.''

*Going back to Hogwarts*

The driver took Draco and me back to Platform 9 3/4. We looked for an empty compartment. All the way at the back of the train, there were some empty seats. I let out a long sigh as I sat down, feeling the weight of the past few days lift ever so slightly.