arranged / dm

011

January 3rd

"Leaving? For how long? When? Why the hell?" Pansy exploded, her fists on the tabletop. "You know, when Malfoy said I would be meeting here to talk to you I thought it was going to be some revelation of love or shit. Not this!"

Daggers shot out of her eyes and straight into Amara's soul.

"It's not the end of the world, Pans." Amara's tone was cautious and quiet, and frankly, she wasn't too proud of this.
  
A new sense of cowardice flushed over her. She had never felt like a coward, she always felt powerful, and now her world was crumbling to pieces around her and all she wanted to do was run. It's apparent that Pansy wasn't proud of her either. And that's what set it off more.

She stared into the Devil's eyes now, her usually vibrant eyes darker and anger replaced the joy.

"I can't believe you, of all people, are running. Again. It didn't exactly work out the first time, did it?" Pansy spat at her, her eyebrows furrowed in anger.

"Can't you just listen to me? Fucking hell, Pansy!"
  
People began looking toward the two, causing them both to slouch and hide their faces desperately.

"I'm just asking you to keep this secret. I can't live like this anymore, Pans." Amara whispered through her hood.

Pansy remained silent, her brain buzzing with questions she needed answered.

"You'll keep in touch, right? You won't cut me off?" Her hand inched closer to Amara's, hesitating, almost in fear. "You're all I have, Mara. I can't afford to lose you." Pansy's voice broke and wavered, the mask that hid her emotions so well began to melt and reveal her inner workings.
  
Amara grabbed her friend's hand, squeezing it tightly; insinuating she didn't want to let go. "I would never cut you off. You mean the world to me."

She tried to look at the girl's face through the fabric that hid it so well from those around them. A tear slid down Pansy's perfectly structured face as Amara rubbed her hand softly.

"Okay. But promise me you'll keep yourself safe. When Lucius Malfoy finds out his son and his son's arranged wife ran away, he will lose his shit. Be careful out there and trust no one." Pansy rambled on about the issues surrounding their lives and the precautions they had been taught to take since the war.
  
"I will. I've got to go, I'll see you soon, alright?" Amara pushed her chair away from the table and stood, quickly examining the room, before pulling her hood farther over her face. Pansy did the same, but grabbed Amara by the shoulders.

"I love you, okay?" She whispered as she pulled her into a bone crushing hug. She hesitated in letting go, her hands still latched onto the girl.
  
Amara flashed her a smile, and with much reluctance, Pansy let go. She stayed, rooted in her spot, as Amara walked away.

She navigated the crowd nervously, one hand holding her hood down in place. Her eyes were fixed on the floor below her feet and her ears listened for whispers of her name, only to make sure she knew when she'd need to run. People ran into her from every angle, almost knocking her off her feet. Her goal was simply to make it outside and meet Draco, to be safe completely.
  
Drunk wizards hung onto her, pulling her in every direction as she tried to leave.

"Its rude to wear a hood indoors, love." One slurred while another tried to pull her hood off. Panic flooded her senses as she tried to rip them off of her.

"I bet there's a pretty face hiding underneath there." A man a few feet away commented as he watched, a sly smirk painted on his ugly face. Amara felt her whole body tense as she squirmed in their grasp in desperation to run far from them.

"Young girls like you don't go unnoticed." Their hands dug into her arms, their breath fanning on her face. The world was spinning around her as the panic set in. She knew what they did to witches like her. Girls who were on the wrong side. Girls who were helpless. Girls who were alone.

She now knew what her fate was and she wished she hadn't gone without Draco. Tears brimmed her eyes as the hood began to slide down the back of her head.
  
The men smiled evilly at her as the light slowly hit her face. Time slowed down as she stood still in pure fear. Her eyes glued to the floor in attempts to avoid their gazes and think of an escape. If she pulled her wand out, they'd be ready. They outnumbered her, but she feared she didn't have any other choices.

Her fingers wrapped around the wooden wand in her pocket, slowly pulling it out so the men holding her wouldn't notice the movements. Nobody around acknowledged the scene happening, their gazes directed far from the situation.
  
"Fucking let go of her." A stern voice ripped through the commotion, making the grown men freeze in their spots.

"Step the fuck away from her before I make you." The new noise made everyone direct their eyes to the group, silence falling over the room. The men did as told, backing away slowly.

"We are sorry. If we knew she was with someone we wouldn't have touched her." One spoke out. His voice was frail now, the confidence had faded.

"Do not speak to me." The figure walked closer to Amara, their face now becoming visible to her.
  
Draco stared down at her, worry behind his cold eyes and anger on his face. His hand gently made contact with her arm, pulling her behind him. The low chatter from inside faded as the left, the cold air hitting Amara's face hard.

Draco kept walking, looking out for a place to talk. His mind was racing with what could've been her fate if he hadn't heard the commotion from outside the door.
  
He pulled her into a small alley and pulled her hood down to look at her.

"What the hell happened? Are you hurt? I'll fucking kill them." He scanned her eyes, his hands firm on her shoulders.

"I'm fine. Also very glad you showed up when you did." A smile crept onto her face as he examined her face.

"I should've gone in sooner." Amara gazed into his mesmerizing eyes, losing herself in them.

"Since when do you care for me, Draco?" She asked lazily, her head tilted to the side slightly. Draco stared at her, hands dropping from her shoulders and instead straightened his shirt. The words got caught in his throat as he tried to speak, his lies breaking his mind.

"I don't." He choked out. His eyes settled on the wall behind her; anywhere but her.
  
"Mhm. That's not what it seems like." The words left Amara's mouth before she could even realize what she was saying. She was still lost in his eyes, and nothing she said was something she wanted to say out loud. But here she was anyway.

"Just, shut up. We have things to get done. Be more careful now, this won't work with one person." He pulled his own hood on and began to walk away, leaving Amara in the alley.

She shook her head and followed behind him, pulling her own cover on as they entered the streets of Diagon Alley once again. He didn't even glance back at her as he navigated the busy street.
  
He replayed her words in his head as he led her to their first stop. He tried to shake the feelings of worry he had felt minutes ago; he wanted to forget it. But Amara's horrified face kept displaying itself in his mind, making him think of her in a way he hadn't thought of someone before. Draco huffed.

This was going to be the hardest thing he'd ever done.