Professor Malfoy?

Chapter 9

White flashes of light panelled across Y/N's eyes— each one jumping from one horror to the next. Her eyes snapped open to find herself on her stomach, her fingernails embedded in clumps of loose dirt and grass. Someone was behind her, holding her by her feet, dragging her into a dark forest.

She screamed. Loud enough for it to span several miles. Right as all faded to black— Y/N woke with a start.

She lurched from the bed, her hand reactively jumping to cover her mouth. Her whole body shook as she panted harm into her palm, coming down from the heat of her nightmare. But as she calmed herself down, she realised she could hear voices.

She slowly turned her head. Professor Malfoy was standing with his back to her, one hand on the wall, the other holding his phone up to his ear.

"I've already told you, Potter. She's in safe hands. I've been keeping a close eye on her."

There was muffled speaking on the other side of the phone. She immediately recognised the soft sound of her fathers voice.

Malfoy hummed here and there, his back still to her. Y/N rubbed a clenched fist over her heavy eyes and slowly sat up, trying to hear more.

"In a couple of hours it will be over every front page of the Daily Prophet. Whoever is responsible will know that you've been deployed in our area. She'll be okay."

More muffled speaking.

"I know! I will." He started to sound peeved. "I get it— you're a worried father, but you shouldn't doubt me, Potter. I said I'll keep her safe, so that's exactly what I'm going to do."

Her fathers voice grew quieter on the other side of the phone.

"Okay..." Malfoy sighed, "And please, if you're going to be in the area you better come see her. She's your daughter, my reassurance can only go so far."

"P-Professor?" Y/N mumbled softly

Malfoy turned around and saw her awake, staring at him with glossy, half-slitted eyes. "Hold on..." he murmured to her dad on the other side of the phone and put him on mute.

"What're you doing...?" She asked softly, fumbling with the bed duvets Malfoy must've tucked her into.

"I had to take a very important phone call with your father, sweetheart. Go back to bed, I'll be there in a second."

Y/N went quiet as he took her father off mute and continued to talk.

"What were you saying?"

Y/N couldn't sleep even if he told her to. Something was seriously wrong. She'd had her first nightmare in ages, and now Malfoy was up on the phone to her father at two am.

"Mhm. Okay. I'll let her know, m'kay? Bye." Malfoy said. He gave a great, deep sigh and finally put the phone down, turning back to the bed where Y/N still sat staring at him.

"Sir? What's going on?" She asked softly, watching him as he rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the tension in his taut muscles.

Malfoy wanted to tell her that it was nothing, that she should go back to bed and enjoy her sweet dreams, but there was no point in lying to her. If he didn't tell her now, she would find out in a matter of hours.

"Darling..." Malfoy whispered, slowly sliding on top of the bed beside her. She looked up at him with big, doe eyes and he nearly melted at the sight. It made him want to protect her like no other. "There's been another disappearance down in Shieldaig."

Y/N gasped. "That's not far from here..." She whispered nervously. Malfoy moved closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, pulling her closer into him. "I know..." He whispered, resting his chin on top of her head.