|In The Dark|

79

5 DAYS LATER...
ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK

We've been locked in his room for 5 days. Draco hasn't said more than a few words. He mostly just sleeps. The worst part of it is when he bleeds. He wakes up, blood seeping through his boxers and onto the bed. His face goes pale and he gets up and locks himself in the bathroom. Tears fill my eyes as I scourgify his mattress and clean up. When he comes out, I can tell he was crying. But he won't talk to me. He just lays back down and sleeps again. It was dark out and I just finished cleaning his bed again. He came out of the bathroom and he was still limping. I was worried. There must be something wrong, he might be injured.

"Draco?" I said gently. I sat on the edge of the bed next to him and he opened his eyes. "I want to sleep, Anna." he mumbled. "Draco, I'm worried. I think- I think you need a healer." I said. "I'm fine." he said quietly. "You're still bleeding and it's been 5 days." I said. A stray tear fell down his cheek and he sighed. "I said I'm fine. This happened last time too, it goes away after a while." he said. My stomach lurched. "Last time? What do you mean last time?" I asked. His face fell. "Draco, have they done this to you before?" I asked. He nodded. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. He looked up and nodded. "When? Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. "Summer. After you saved Astoria and Daphne, they were angry. They said they were giving me what I wanted." he said, his voice shaky and uneven. "Draco," I choked out. "You could have told me. I would have helped you." I said. He shook his head and forced a smile. "I couldn't tell you, Anna. I didn't want you to have flashbacks to what happened to you, and spiral." he said. My heart sank. "You've been doing so good and I didn't want to ruin it." he said. "I'm so sorry you went through this." I said. I hugged him and he exhaled a shaky breath. "I'm so scared, Anna." he whispered. "I know. But I'm here, we'll be ok." I said. Just then, the door opened. "Get up, both of you." Bellatrix spat. I stood up and quickly helped Draco to his feet. "What's going on?" I asked. "Your knock off father is here." she said. My face paled. "Please don't hurt him." I pleaded. "That's entirely up to you." she said. She grabbed my wrist and dragged me down the hall. "Say whatever you have to say to get rid of him. If you try anything, I'll kill you both." she spat. "Ok." I said. The foyer was completely empty except for Narcissa, standing in the doorway. Bellatrix stood behind the door and pointed her wand at me. I stepped into view and my father smiled. "Anna, thank God you're alright." he said. 'I'm fine. What are you doing here?" I asked. "You were kidnapped by death eaters right in front of me. I've been looking everywhere for you." he said. "Oh." I said quietly. "Are they here? Did they hurt you?" he asked. "No. I'm fine. I came here by myself." I said. His face faltered. "I don't understand." he said. I felt Bellatrix poke my back with her wand. A warning. "The death eater you saw that took me, he had his mask on the whole time so I don't know who it was. But he brought me to an old building. They left me for a second and I was able to escape. I thought the burrow wasn't safe so I came here." I lied. He just nodded. "Why didn't you contact me? I've been worried sick." he said. "I just figured you were busy knocking up more of dad's friends." I snapped. His face dropped. "That's enough, Anna." he said. "How is the wife?" I asked. He exhaled heavily. "She's fine." he said. "And my real family? Harry and the Weasleys? Are they alright?" I asked. "Their home was destroyed by death eaters but everyone is unharmed." he said. My heart sank. "The burrow is ruined?" I asked. He nodded. "Oh." I said quietly. Another poke in my back. "Well, I should go-" I started. "Absolutely not. You are coming home with me." he said. "No." I said. "I don't care how angry you are with me. It's dangerous and I almost lost you. You are coming with me." he said. I paused. "Fine, but Draco comes with us." I said. He sighed. "Fine." he said. "Give me a second." I said. Then I shut the door in his face. The second it closed, Bellatrix grabbed my hair and jerked my head up. "What are you thinking? Draco isn't going anywhere." she hissed. "Unless you want the entire order surrounding the headquarters of Voldemort, I suggest you let us go." I spat. She cocked an eyebrow. "Let me go, mother." I said. She let go and I stepped back. "I'm leaving and I'm taking Draco with me. And if you ever let those disgusting men touch him again, I will kill you." I said. "Fine." she said. "And don't even think about hurting Narcissa instead because if you do, I'll tell Dumbledore everything." I said. Then I walked away. I went up to Draco's room and went inside. "Draco, get dressed. I'm getting you out of here." I said. "What? What are you talking about?" he said. "We're leaving." I said. I grabbed his trunk and started stuffing some of his clothes on it. "Draco, hurry!" I exclaimed. "But my mum-" he started. "She's safe. I made sure of it." I said. "Where are we going?" he asked. "I'll explain later." I said. He quickly got dressed and we went downstairs. Draco avoided eye contact as we walked past Bellatrix and we went outside. Draco saw my dad and his eyes widened. "Professor Lupin?" he said. "Please, call me Remus." he said. "Let's go." I said. I held Draco's hand as he limped away. "Are you alright, Draco?" dad asked. "Yeah, I just fell." he said. Dad just nodded.