you were mine

five - a warm welcoming

"Thank you for letting us stay, Belle." Draco smiles as I walk the two boys toward the front door. I nod, "Of course, as I said, you two are always welcome here."

"And thanks for the leftover breakfast. Can't wait to heat this up." Theodore holds up the bag of food and I laugh, "Yeah, you're welcome."

Draco steps away from Theo and places a hand on my arm, turning me around so Theodore can't hear us. I look up at him, confused, "What?"

"If you need anything you can write to me. I'll be here as soon as I can, alright?" he breathes out and I sigh, I"ve never been one for pity. I hated the looks people gave me when they found out about my mom passing--of course, they never found out how--I hated how people treated you when you were having a bad day. I never wanted people to feel sorry for me because there was always someone that had it worse. And Draco knows that, yet here he is, pitying me.

"Stop, Draco. Everything's fine here. Don't do that." I push his hand off of me carefully, not trying to draw Theodore's attention to us. Draco sighs as he shakes his head, "I was just offering, Belle. You don't need to be a bitch." he glares at me and I shrug, "Rather be a bitch than have you pity me. Now, go before your mother starts to think you're never coming back."

"I wish I wasn't." he laughs as he turns back around, Theo looking at the two of us.

"I'll write to you both." I smile as they walk out the door, Draco looks at me and smiles before I shut it behind them. I let out a breath as I turn around, and left again in this empty house. It's not actually empty of course, my dad is in the library, sleeping off the alcohol in his system. But it might as well be empty. I do understand his pain, I understand how much he's fought for. But I wish he could find another way to cope, other than drinking.

Draco

I walk into the Manor, letting out a breath as I shut the large door behind me. I look around for any sign of my parents, only to be disappointed when I hear my father walking towards me. I hold my head high, trying to show him he doesn't intimidate me--even though he does.

"Who do you think you are? Walking out of this house while I'm speaking to you, and then staying out all night? I don't care how old you are, you still live under this roof, in my house." my father seethes as he glares down at me, I glance at his hand gripping his cane. I know what's coming but I can't stop myself from snapping back at him.

"I had every right to walk out of this house, to protect myself." I spit back and he glares at me, "And where did you run off to?" he scoffs.

"None of your business." I look down as I go to walk past him, though I know I won't make it far. He pulls his cane up in front of me, knocking it against my chest.

"Don't speak to me like that, Draco, I'm your father."

"You think you deserve my respect?" I scoff at him, immediately regretting it as he slaps the cane across my stomach, doubling me over. I gasp for air as I grab at my side. I deserve this. I shouldn't have continued.

"Watch your mouth, Draco, before you get yourself in trouble." my father glares down at me before walking away, head held high, proud of the way he raises his son. I take a breath as I straighten myself out, adjusting myself before letting the breath out.

I'm okay.

"Draco, sweetie, I thought I heard someone." the sound of my mother's heels echoes as she walks faster toward me. She knew I was here, she stood in the corner while my father 'disciplined' me.

"Sorry I stayed out so late, I was visiting Belle." I nod as she wraps her arms around me, holding me tight before pulling away. She smiles up at me, "And how is Annabelle?"

She's always called Belle by her real name, maybe to be respectful, or maybe that's just how my mother is. She's told me how much she likes Belle, she's respectful, she helps clean up, and she's not like most of Voldemort's little puppets. And I think Belle might see my mother as a figure in her life, I think that's why she tries so hard to impress my mother.

"She's doing alright, struggling with the news of Voldemort's return." I shrug, trying to keep the last part quiet. But still my father booms in, "I don't understand that girl's hatred for the Dark Lord."

My mother rolls her eyes, "He killed 'that girl's' mother, Lucius."

She looks at me and rolls her eyes again, a sign of how she understands.

"Victoria Fawn got what she deserved that day. Besides, that was ages ago."

His words make my blood boil. Victoria did not deserve to die. She deserved a medal for standing up to Voldemort. And Belle has every right to hate him, he's ruined her life and still is.

"Don't." my mother whispers, rubbing her hand down my arm, noticing my urge to stand up for Belle's family. I sigh as I look down at her, "I should go put my things away. I'll be down soon to tell you about my night." She nods and watches as I walk up the stairs toward my room.

I shut the door behind me and sigh as I lay down. I was going to tell Belle about what Theodore said on the train. I was going to ask her if she ever thought of us maybe being more than friends. But then I backed out. I don't want to mess shit up. If I was to ask that, and she got all weirded out by it, that would ruin our friendship. And I can't risk that. But what if I asked her and she said yes, and then we got together? Even then, statistically, we wouldn't last which would result in--you guessed it--ruining our friendship. Maybe I don't even think of her that way, and I only think I do because Theodore brought it up. But I don't think it's normal for friends to think of each other in the way I think of Belle sometimes.

I groan as I sit up, my ribs aching as I do. I let out a breath as I stand up and walk over to my mirror, pulling my shirt up and studying the small bruise starting to form on my ribs. I wish I could stand up for myself, for my mother. Instead of backing down after one hit. But he's bigger, and he's always angrier. So I'd lose, he'd kill me. I just wish one day I could win, and show him that he can't win everything just by slapping me around.