Skin Of Pure Ice

chapter seven

I hated training. No, more like despised training and I hated the person I was training with.

I got good at blocking and casting spells, maybe even better than Malfoy, but I doubted that. I was good and I wanted to be great.

"Okay, good, now for physical combat." He said, placing his wand back into his holder and I did the same. Just the thought of getting anywhere near three feet of him I wanted to hurl but he crept up to me and I wanted to step back. "Punch me."

"You don't have to tell me twice." I go for it, quick, clenched fist, but he got me, swung my arm out of place, and was practically over me. Our hips were close and his front was close to my back. Almost too close.

And then... I smell it. 

Cologne and citrus. It smelled so familiar to me like I had smelt the sweat mixed with it and the freshness.

Like I had once gotten so close to that scent it was once permanent in my nostrils. My heart pounded in my chest and my knees felt so weak. Another thing struck between us and when I felt it I gasped.

"Terrible." He mumbles and steps us out of place. "Posture, hands, everything."

"Well, are you going to teach me or just stand there pointing out all my imperfections?"

He narrowed his eyes and walked back toward me.

"Keep your feet under your shoulders and turn towards the person you're punching." He explained and went into the stance, I copied him. "Put your dominant foot behind you." I did. "Good. Give me your hand."

My eyes widened and I gave him my hand.

The touch was electric. More intense than the quick punch. It was pulsating through me.

"Put your thumb over your other four fingers like so." I wanted to run from the feeling not fall deeper into it. The longer we were touching the deeper I was falling. "Bend your knees slightly," He let out a cough. "Good, now hit me again."

I did, putting every last bit of force I had into it, and this time he didn't stop me. He let me follow suit.

He didn't wince in pain or even flinch. He just nodded.

* * *

I hated my room now. I felt like I was caged in.

"This Manor belongs to not just only us now."

"You are a Malfoy now."

I opened the door and stepped out of it.

I had absolutely no clue what possessed me to do this but I did.

I had never walked around the Manor alone. I always had some sort of escort whether it be Draco himself or Narcissa. I Hadn't seen or heard of Lucius Malfoy or Bellatrix Lestrange since I had awoken in the Dungeon. His dungeon.

It felt like bugs had crawled up my skin at the mere thought but took in a breath.

"I'm okay," I whispered to myself. "I'm going to be okay."

I stepped down the spiral staircase and with each step down I felt myself being able to breathe a little less.

I wanted to run back up to my room and stay there for the rest of eternity yet I felt trapped. Well, no matter where I go in this Manor I am trapped. This is my doom. This is my fate and for some odd reason, I am okay with it. 

When I would sit in my bed late at night I never thought about my future. I never saw my future. I could see it for Gabriella, Theodore, Astoria, Blaise, and even Draco but never my own. I never saw myself growing up and having kids. Marriage was the one thing I was okay about. I didn't care that much about it but at some points, I would.