Dragon's Rose (A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction)

Looking Out For You

Two months had passed since the start of the new school year and Adeline was already sick of it. She fought so hard for the chance to stay at Hogwarts to see her friends, but now she felt as if it were for nothing.

Classes were difficult. Umbridge was creating vile rules. She couldn't speak to Harry. Her study sessions with Malfoy were filled with stupid arguments and shouting back and forth.

She felt defeated.

Defeated. Lonely. Sad. Tired.

She hadn't slept for days. She hadn't eaten anything else but a piece of toast. She coated her face and glamour charms and smiles.

But she didn't know how long she could do it anymore.

"Ads?"

Adeline turned her head, catching her cousin's gaze. He looked worried.

And he should be.

"Theo," Adeline dropped her voice, not of disappointment, but letting her happy facade down. She didn't have to pretend right now. She was too tired. "Sit."

Theo took his seat across from her. When he got situated, he stared at her. His dark brown eyes connected with hers, carefully searching them for some familiarity, some spark. He placed his hands in front of him, tapping an easy pattern.

Tap. Tap. Tap-tap. Tap.

He looked great, clearly better than Adeline did. There was no evidence of the faux smoothness of glamour charms or burnt out fires in his eyes. His hair was looked as it normally did; brown, curly, and done so well it seemed as if it were mocking perfection.

The only thing that looked off about Theo was his lips. They were usually full and pink, carved into a cunning grin. Today, they were a blush red, covered in small cuts, and turned down into a painful frown.

"I'm alright, okay?" Adeline said softly.

Theo kept staring.

"I just- everything is a mess. I'm stressed out with school, but it's okay. It's okay and I'm okay. You don't have to worry for me." She spluttered, focusing her eyes on him.

"Yes, I do." Theo said.

"No, you don't. Theo, I'm-

"Fine," He finished for me. "I know that's a lie. Malfoy says you've lost your fight during study sessions. I knew something was wrong."

Butterflies arose in her stomach and bile rose up her throat as she heard Malfoy's surname. She wanted to cry. She wanted to cry because it was true. She lost her fight with Malfoy for the past three sessions and she hated herself for it.

Adeline turned away from Theo. "I'll be fine."

"When?"

"In time." She replied blankly.

Theo sighed before putting his head in his hands, ruffling up his hair. "I'm sorry. I don't want to intrude, truly, but you're my cousin and I fucking care about you. I love you, and I don't love many people. So, I'm worried. I want you to be happy and maybe I'm not going about it right, but I needed to ask."

"Aww," the corners of Adeline's mouth picked up into a small smile. "You love me?"

"Fuck you." He replied, picking his head up.

"I'm stressed out, Theo. There's no other reason behind it," Lies. There was another reason. A blonde haired, blue eyed reason. "And for the record, I love you too."