✓ WE NEVER SLEEP, draco malfoy

T H I R T Y

"He is in my heart and I suffer."

— Andal, "Noisy Among the Shenbaka Flowers"

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"News of Katie Bell being cursed has spread like fucking wildfire," Pansy snapped, addressing the room. They were piled inside Draco's room, huddled together like nervous pets across the couch and chairs. 

Pansy was pacing back and forth in front of them, Blaire sitting on the edge of his seat as if he were ready to reach out and bring her to him. Theo, on the other hand, was sprawled in his chair with a look of annoyance on his face as his eyes followed Pansy's feet. He had been unusually quiet and moody the second he stepped into the room.

"How were we supposed to know the package would have a hole in it?" Blaise said, looking around the room. "It wasn't like we planned on her getting cursed."

"Yeah but now Dumbledore's on to us because Potter and his stupid little friends were there to witness the whole thing!" cursed Pansy, rage slipping onto her face like a second skin.

Rowan was curled into Draco's side, his arm draped over the back of the couch and his fingers playing with the hair spilling across her shoulders. Her legs were tucked underneath her and she was pale, and when he'd look over at her, he watched her eyes follow Pansy back and forth, as if she were hoping the girl's movements would hypnotize her into forgetting.

Knowing that the necklace had failed only meant they would need a new way of getting the job done and from the way Rowan was sitting huddled against him, he knew she had an idea she was terrified to voice.

"It's going to be impossible to get anything done around Potter and the rest of his followers," Draco said, twisting a lock of Rowan's brown hair around his finger. "They're on to us, have been from the start."

"And how do we know she didn't tell them already, huh?" Pansy sneered, pointing a long finger at the girl curled into his side. 

He scowled. "Don't be ridiculous."

Pansy smirked, finally stopping to face them. "Been a little too quiet there, Rowan. It's about time you start spewing your denial."

Rowan didn't say a word but when Draco looked at her, he could see her eyes staring straight into Pansy's completely unwavering. Her mouth formed into a thin line, no expression whatsoever, and the look of it all sent something sharp and deep within Draco. His Rowan would mouth off, she would stand up and throw a jab without hesitation but the woman tucked underneath his arm was emotionless.

Perhaps the ordeal with Borgin had been more worse than he had thought.

"Really? Just going to keep your mouth shut? It's your friends who will get us all killed," Pansy sneered, obviously looking for a fight.

Rowan spoke for the first time since they all met. "They're not my friends anymore."

"And we're supposed to believe that, huh?"

Rowan's brows furrowed and Draco thought, this is it, she's going to finally go off, she's finally going to show her fangs, but she merely shook her head. "Believe what you want," she said in a soft voice and he took note of the sunken look in her eyes, hadn't she slept the night before? "None of it will make any difference, Dumbledore will still know and we'll still be two steps behind."

"Then what do you suggest we do, princess?"

Rowan met her eyes and Draco's heart skipped a beat. Had he ever truly noticed how dangerous she looked when she got serious? Surely he must've noticed back in fifth year when she hexed him, how the deranged look had appeared in her eyes from how angry he was making her. Had he always noticed the psychotic strength she had in situations that left her facing Pansy or even him at the worst of it?