arranged / dm

019

"Why would I do that?" he questioned, narrowing his eyes at her. His hands held her face gently as she looked up at him. "Oh come on do you not remember the situation we're in? I'm fucking in love with you. Why the hell would I leave now?" Though his demeanor was stern his voice was soft. It echoed in Amara's head and she let herself relax under his touch.

She stepped closer to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. His scent infiltrated her senses and a wave of calmness flooded over her. Draco hesitated slightly, a look of shock on his face, but it soon faded and he let his arms drape over her shoulders. He rested his chin on her head and closed his eyes.

They stayed put for a while, finally letting themselves relax. The tension that had taken over in the past days melted away slowly. Now they could pause and just live. Now they didn't need to worry about being hunted anymore.

Draco pulled away from her, staring down at her. "Shall we go explore?" he smiled. Amara nodded, taking his hand in her own. They walked side by side in the cold afternoon air, looking around at everything.

"How are we going to make money, ever so wise Amara?" Draco asked as they passed by storefronts.

"Same way Wizards make money. We work," she said. Her eyes had caught some ideas, specific Muggle places that would be simple to work. A list had formed in her mind and she added to it every few minutes, tuning out the world.

Draco had been trying to figure out how the Muggles lived—he was figuring out how to blend in. He picked up on their customs and ways they went about their days. Nothing they did make sense, but he knew if they were going to live without fear he needed to learn. So he vowed to himself it would only take a few days to adapt. 

Amara had already adapted. She smiled at those passing by and had been memorizing the town the entire time they walked. It was like she was free. She was free from expectations, from danger. She wasn't targeted--no one knew her at all. Draco watched her, a small smile on his lips as she walked ahead of him. He took note of the way she presented herself. He hadn't noticed the confidence the girl held and how she seemed to beam no matter who attempted to outshine or tear her down. She knew who she was, and who she could be. 

And that was all she needed.

Her confidence had shrunk, no doubt, in the past month. But she still had the glisten of pure power and control in her eye. After all, she wasn't raised to doubt herself or her abilities. 

The two had walked the length of the town and the edge was in eyesight. A road led out past the town lines and vanished in the trees that surrounded them. Draco and Amara stared out at the horizon and let themselves breathe. They had traveled so far and long for this one moment. The moment where they could just be. Where nothing could harm them or strike fear in their aching bodies. 

"Do you really think they won't come here?" Draco asked Amara, looking slightly down at her. Her eyes didn't meet his. She continued to stare away from him, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeves. 

"They shouldn't, right?" She looked at him, chewing the inside of her cheek. "I mean, he's your father. Would he send them inside a Muggle town and risk an offense that could send him back to Azkaban?" The boy winced at the name, turning away from her.

"I don't believe he would," he answered. "But I also didn't believe he'd send angry men to find us. My judgement is slightly clouded." Amara didn't say a word to him. None of what they had been through made sense. Everything felt like a dream that Amara was desperate to wake up from. Draco slipped his hand into hers, putting his tired mind at ease for just a moment. 

Angry yells and chants broke through the air. The wind blew cold and the sun seemed to die. The trees rustled around them as figures emerged once more. They stared, not daring to move a muscle. Amara tensed. She watched them stand eerily at the edge, wands readied for who knows what. She tightened her grip on Draco and tugged at his arm. 

"We should head back and rest." She smiled brightly at him and began walking, leaving the group behind. She felt their gazes on her neck as they inched closer to safety. Their faces haunted her brain and infiltrated her. Her pace was fast. Draco kept up with her, realizing the fear that controlled her now. He tried to slow her down, but she was set in her pace. The yells echoed in her head and taunted her. 

She wanted nothing more than to return to the dark hotel room and shut out every living being that walked amongst her now. She pulled on Draco's arm and closed the gap between them and the glass doors. 

Their room door slammed and Amara let out a breath, dropping onto the edge of the bed. Draco stared at her for a moment from the door, studying her body language. She focused on the floor, her shoulders tensed and her breathing highly irregular. "Amara," he mumbled, taking slow steps toward her. "What's wrong?" 

He crouched down in front of her, putting his hands on hers. She let herself look into his eyes, feeling his touch on her skin. "They were there," she whispered. "I swear I saw them." The figures flashed before her eyes and she flinched. Her body began to shake slightly and she had already identified where both their wands were located.

Draco furrowed his eyebrows and placed his hand on the side of her face. "Who?" His voice was quiet when he spoke now, scared to ignite something in her. Amara held the hand that he had pressed against her cheek and sighed. They stared into each others eyes, silence flooding the room. 

"The men. They watched us from the trees," she breathed out. Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked at the boy in front of her. Draco kept a calm demeanor and rubbed small circles on her hand to soothe her. He hadn't seen them. They couldn't have been there or he would've surely seen them.

He stood and placed himself next to her on the bed, pulling her close. "We are safe. You are safe," he whispered, stroking her hair. She laid her head down on his shoulder, twisting his rings slowly. "I promise you they won't come here." Draco placed a kiss on her head and rubbed her arm, feeling the tension in her melt away.

They were safe.

a/n: holy mother of god this story is at 1k reads. i literally can't thank yall enough for this. idk how i all of the sudden had readers but im so so so grateful and happy and thankful :) this story only has one chapter left so follow me on instagram w the same user as on here to keep up w me! i love everyone who reads this story and i thank you for giving me the motivation to write this chapter and the next one!