arranged / dm

014

They continued to run, Amara occasionally looking back behind them as they sprinted through the trees. She heard spells being casted and saw streams of light flying past them. They were closing in on them and the forest seemed to never end.

Draco picked up his pace, looking over his shoulder briefly to make sure Amara was still with him but as soon as he turned away from her, her foot caught a tree branch.

Her hand broke free from his and she hit the ground, rolling a few inches before stopping. The men laughed as she scrambled to her knees, the angry wizards drawing nearer with wands raised high.

"Lucius will be proud," a bearded man began, "yes very proud indeed. The girl who corrupted his son caught first. Pity."

He raised his wand high above his head, the curse ringing proud in his head as Amara closed her eyes, shrinking away from the man.

"Avada Ke-" Before he could finish, Draco sprinted to her side, grabbing hold of her tightly before shooting an angry glare at the men.

He lifted her, his own wand pointed straight at the man as he clutched Amara against his chest. His anger clouded his judgement and he Apparated.

✩☾✩

The two landed in the same position they stood in before the men, only now they stood on a dirt road. A few miles ahead there were buildings. Small buildings, but still something.

"Are you hurt?" Draco blurted, looking down at Amara who still stood against him. She shook her head, refusing to move from the spot she held now. "We have to keep going. If they follow us we'll be able to hide here." He slid his hand into hers once more and took slower steps beside her.

Amara raised her free hand and rubbed her face, dirt and blood rubbing off on her hand. Her hands were dirty as well, spots of blood lining her palms from the fall she took and her hair was messy now.

"How did they find us?" She choked out, her inability to speak properly apparent in her tone. Draco glanced down at her worriedly before answering.

"They must have began traveling the same forest since the morning after we left. Probably caught up to us by chance and heard me talking to you." He mumbled to her, guilt washing over him as he recalled yelling to her mere minutes before they had been attacked.

"We just have to be more careful now that we know my father has sent men after us." His voice was more serious now and his shoulders had tensed.

Amara and Draco approached the village with apprehensive looks in their eyes. The new atmosphere had Draco on edge and as they passed by locals wearing curious expressions, he tensed even more and hung his head low.

The villagers bustled around on the stone road, smoke emitting from chimneys and young children running around them in circles. A few minutes had passed and they seemed to have diverted their attention away from the new pair of kids.

"We'll lay low here. I don't think they'd come in slashing innocent people just yet." Draco mumbled as he pulled Amara into a small pub on the outskirts of the small village.

"They aren't that desperate yet." He spoke in a hushed tone and sat down on a wooden chair at a small, rounded table.

The dim lights made it easy for the two to blend in, the shadows nearly hiding their entire faces. Low grumbles from men playing cards echoed in the room, the only sunlight coming from the small window on the far side of the pub.