arranged / dm

017

They were running again. Everything they had was packed quickly and thrown over Draco's shoulder. Amara was barefoot. The cold air made her shiver as Draco pulled her behind him by the hand. The small village behind them disappeared slowly and the yells became distant. Draco's body vibrated with fear, the feel of Amara's hand in his being the only comfort.

They struggled to make it to the forest outlining the village. They planned to stay there a while and pick up where they left off tomorrow, but unfortunately things never went according to plan.

Draco paused only when they were concealed in the trees, finally looking back at Amara. Her cheeks were pink from the cold. The previous worries dissipated in Draco's mind as he pulled a coat out of the bag and threw it around her. He hugged her tightly to him and leaned his head on hers. "I'm sorry." he mumbled. His hand was rubbing circles on her back as she shivered against him.

Amara's hands were latched onto Draco's arms as they stood in the cold together. Silence took over and the pair was rooted in fear of being found once again. Draco's mind raced as he felt Amara tremble against him. Just minutes ago he felt like they were safe. He imagined his father pacing angrily in the study, throwing things and screaming orders. But in a flash he imagined Amara's parents. The parents that cared. He wondered how they felt.

Did they feel helpless? Were they worried? He let his eyes settle on the girl in his arms. His breathing slowed to a steady pace and his mind was put at ease. She clung to him like he was her only lifeline and he felt an immense need to protect her with everything he had.

"We need to move." he mumbled. Her head tilted upward and her eyes met his. They were filled with a sudden fear of the men following their trails. It was now that Draco vowed to himself, no matter what, he was going to protect her with everything in him. Even if that meant giving his life up. He'd do it.

He held her hand and walked ahead of her, his right grip not only making Amara feel safer but reassuring Draco he wouldn't lose her.

They were back to square one. Everywhere they had been was a blur now. They left their previous shelter frantically which leaves room for error and forgetfulness. In the quick paced packing they had forgotten several things.

The radio.

Amara's eyes widened at the realization and she tugged at Draco eagerly. "Did you get the radio?" she asked clearly and watched as Draco's eyebrows furrowed.

"Shit." he whispered, running his free hand through his hair. "We're going to need to relocate somewhere they won't think to look since we can't follow their tracks." he sighed.

Amara looked into his eyes, an idea instantly coming to mind. "You're going to hate this," she started. "but I need you to listen to me."

He nodded and released his grip on her hand, crossing his arms tightly.

"I'm sorry, Draco, but we're going to need to find a Muggle town."

Draco grimaced at the words, eyeing Amara. "A Muggle town?"

"They'll never think to look there. We'd be in the clear." Amara reassured. Draco's gaze remained on her face now, the sound of their feet hitting the ground had died out again. He didn't want to agree with her. He wanted to tell her she was wrong and find a village of wizards, but he knew she was right.

"Alright. We'll find a Muggle town and hide out there. I'm not allowing that to happen again." he mumbled to her before starting to walk once more.

The cold stung Amara's face as they continued to venture deeper into the woods. The frost covered leaves crunched under her feet as she followed close behind Draco. He hadn't spoke since they started moving again, he only looked at her with pure worry in his gray eyes now.

Amara's mind raced with questions for Draco now that he seemed to be having a change of heart. The cold person he used to he had melted and left a soft man who only wanted to protect. That's who she was left with now. Not Draco Malfoy from sixth year who bullied her relentlessly, but the hidden Draco Malfoy that no one was every allowed to see.

The pair walked for hours on end, the only sounds around them being the activity of animals in the trees surrounding them. Draco had insisted Amara  walk ahead of him so he could keep an eye on her now. He wasn't about to let her out of his sight. Draco Malfoy was on high alert, just like he was in sixth and seventh year. The stakes were high and he could feel the weight of the situation they had gotten themselves into pulling on him. No matter what surrounded him, no matter where he was, he felt eyes on him. Evil eyes that taunted him.

His father's eyes.

They had lost any contact they once had with the world around them. They were sitting ducks. Their wands would do them no good against Lucius Malfoy's men--they were better. More skilled. Stronger. They would be able to overtake Draco with one small wrist movement.

We have to be wise is what he repeated to himself while his eyes were locked onto Amara. The fear that he would look away and she would be taken echoed in his mind. Nothing worried him more than losing her to the anger of his father.

✩☾✩

Three days passed. Three days they spent stumbling lazily through the thick forest. They were running on a maximum of five hours of sleep and three apples, which they had split accordingly.

"I see something, there, through the tree line." Amara squinted, shielding her eyes from the bright rising sun. "It looks like it could be a town." she looked back at Draco, a glint of hope in her eyes. He simply nodded and followed behind her as she continued moving forward.

His heart pounded with anxiety as they exited their tree covered pathway and found themselves in a vast field. The morning air was cold against their faces. Colder than it had been before. By instinct, Draco tugged Amara's hood over her head and held her by the shoulders.

"What are you doing?" she mumbled to him. Draco gave no response. He only shoved her forward and kept her walking at a swift pace. Amara sighed and let her eyes wander to the ground below her feet. She hoped, prayed even, that they had escaped the clutches of Lucius Malfoy. But more than that, she prayed for her parent's safety in the presence of Lucius.