you were mine

four - a morning cup of firewhiskey

I let out a breath as I turn and look at Draco, Theodore laying beside him asleep. He looks down at me, eyes tired but still shining as a small smile creeps onto his face. "So why wasn't home a good place to be tonight?" I whisper and he sighs, trying to sit up without waking Theodore up. I do the same, not having to be too careful since Theo isn't beside me.

He fidgets with his hands as he shrugs, "The normal shit, my father yelling because I wasn't celebrating the 'return of Voldemort'." He scoffs, "Like it's some happy thing that deserves to be celebrated." he rolls his eyes as he looks up from his hands and at me, "He told me I'm destined to be great--just like him." The last part is what hurts him the most. Being like Lucius Malfoy is Draco's biggest fear, though, he wouldn't tell anybody that.

"Voldemort being back is nothing to celebrate, and you knowing that makes you nothing like Lucius," I assure him, sliding my hand over his as he did during Dumbledore's speech. He looks down at my hand, thinking for a moment before looking at me again, "Belle, do you ever think-" "Could you two shut up, I'm trying to sleep." Theodore groans, cutting Draco off. We both laugh as I pull my hand away from Draco and stand up. He lets out a breath and looks up at me.

"I should get to sleep, I have two extra people to make breakfast for tomorrow," I whisper and he nods, the smile slowly starting to fade off of his face. "I set up your guest room, the one right beside mine. You could probably just let him sleep down here."

Draco nods as he carefully stands up, not disturbing Theo anymore. We both walk out of the den, me turning off the lights as I do. I shut the doors behind us and we both walk up the stairs together. "Oh, what were you going to ask me?" I stop, turning to him. He looks at me for a moment, eyes scanning my face.

"It was nothing." He shrugs and I laugh, "Alright then. See you tomorrow." I smile as I open my bedroom door, he nods and walks past me towards his room.

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I wake up in the morning, the sun shining through my window since I forgot to close the blinds. I sigh as I debate whether I should get up now or sleep in longer, but decide that I need to get up and make breakfast. I groan as I sit up, my body aching from cleaning all day yesterday. I slide out of bed, the cold floor making me shiver as I stand up. I walk out into the hall, noticing how quiet the house is still. I let out a relieved breath and walk into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

Once I'm finished I walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, surprised when I see my father sitting at the table. "Good morning, I didn't know you were up." I smile but he just looks down at the table without a response. I walk closer to him, noticing the bottle of alcohol in his hand. "Dad, are you drinking? It's only eight in the morning." I breathe out, my hand reaching to take the bottle but he jerks it away, looking up at me as he does. I notice how the tired look in his eyes has gotten worse, the dark circles even darker.

"Voldemort's back." he breathes out, the stench of alcohol rolling off of his lips making me cringe. I thought he already knew. I don't know how he figured it out without anyone telling him. "I heard that boy say it last night. I was coming to check on you three--like a good father--and I heard him say it. He's back." he downs another gulp and I can feel my heart dropping to my stomach. This is only making him worse. I've never seen my dad drink more than a glass before.

"I know, dad, but this isn't helping. Give me the bottle." I plead with him, going to grab it again but he jerks it away and looks at me.

"I try so hard to protect you from that evil because I couldn't protect your mother but it just keeps coming back." He scoffs, letting the mouth of the bottle meet his lips.

"Dad, please." my throat burns as I beg him to just hand me the bottle.

"You want the damn bottle? Go get it!" he spits out, throwing the bottle across the room, glass shattering against the wall and spilling alcohol everywhere. I gasp as I move out of the way, watching my dad lean his head in his hands. The sleeve of his shirt falls, revealing the mark he's always hated. The mark my mother dreaded so much that she got herself killed.

"Dad, please, calm down." I breathe out as I carefully place a comforting hand on his shoulder. He shakes his head as he looks at me, "I just need to lay down." I nod as I wrap my arms under his to help him stand. His body wobbles before leaning onto mine. I carefully move him from the kitchen--avoiding the glass--and back into the library where he almost immediately passes out. I let out a breath as I shut the door and try to keep myself from breaking down. My body leans against the two heavy doors, throat burning as I wrap my arms around my body, practically hugging myself.

"What the hell happened?" Draco's voice chimes in from the bottom of the stairs and I quickly pull myself together. I sit up from the doors, wipe the tears that threatened to fall, and walk over to him.

"Nothing just dropped something."

"An entire bottle of alcohol?" He questions me and I'm suddenly aware of the strong scent that's filled the room. I let out a sigh and look at him, "Just help me clean it up, will you?"

I don't know why I'm so hesitant to tell him the truth when he probably already knows what happened. And it's not like it's a secret how much Voldemort has affected my family's life. But my father has never been a drinker, he's never been an aggressive person, and would never lay a hand on anyone. So I guess I'm trying to protect him, and his reputation of being a perfect father.

Draco nods, following me over to the large puddle of spilled alcohol and shattered glass. "I'll get the glass up, so you don't hurt yourself." he looks at me and I nod, letting him go ahead. I grab a hand towel off of the counter and hand it to him to pick up the glass. He takes it with a small smile.

Once he's cleaned up the glass I grab a mop from the storage closet and start cleaning the floor, hoping the smell will go away. "So are you going to tell me what happened? Or just make me clean up and be clueless." he slides onto a chair at the kitchen table and I sigh.

"He heard you talking about Voldemort returning last night. So when I got down here this morning he was plastered, shit-faced. I tried taking the bottle from him and he threw it across the room." I shrug and Draco looks at me, now concerned, his eyes roaming my body. "He didn't touch me, he wasn't even aiming the bottle at me," I answer him before he can ask the question that I know he was planning.

"Are you alright though? Can't be easy seeing that?"

I look at him and sigh, "I'm doing better than he is, so I have to be."

He shakes his head as he stands up, walking over to take over mopping, "You don't have to be alright. You're allowed to worry even if he is doing enough worrying for the both of you."

I let out a small laugh as I take his seat at the table, "I just think it'll be easier to take care of him if I'm alright and he doesn't have to see me worry." I shrug. I hear Draco sigh, "Fine, but if shit gets to be too much, I'm always happy to come stay and help out." he offers and I smile.

He mops up the last bit of the alcohol and turns to me, "I feel like I got drunk just off the smell of it." he laughs causing me to do the same.

"Nothing like a morning cup of firewhiskey." I slide off the chair and walk over to the stove, actually ready to make breakfast this time.