This is the longest and most peacefully he's slept in a long time. The sunlight poured into my bedroom and I glanced over at the clock. It was 10am and he didn't even stir. I laid in my bed for a moment before climbing off. I moved slowly and gently, every move carefully calculated so I didn't wake him. I stepped into my bathroom and got dressed.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Then I slipped out of my room, shutting the door quietly behind me. I went downstairs and Tonks and dad were in the kitchen. I lingered outside the door for a moment, listening. But they were quiet. No jokes, no laughter, no talking, nothing. It felt...strange. I went in and they looked at me. "Good morning, Anna." dad said. I glanced over at him and nodded. "Where's Draco?" Tonks asked. "Sleeping. And he hasn't done that in a while so please don't wake him up." I said. They both nodded. "How is he feeling?" Tonks said quietly. "He's fine." I mumbled. Dad looked at Tonks and she forced a smile. "I have to- I'm going to- I'll be in the other room." she said. Dad nodded. Once she left, dad placed a tea cup on the table and pulled out a chair. "Sit down, Annabelle." he said. "I don't want another lecture. If you want to talk to someone, talk to your wife." I said turning to leave. "Sit." he said sharply. I turned around and he sat down. I sighed and sat down, taking a sip of my tea. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to explain myself. I was hoping you could just- I don't know what I hoped..." he trailed off. I looked at him and tears filled his eyes. "I miss your dad. So much. And I just- you have been through so much. And I thought we'd be ok because we have each other. But then- then we lost your father too. And I don't know how to do this without him." he choked out. My face faltered. "Dad-" I started. "And Tonks- she was a good friend- to both of us. And one night we got drunk- that's all it was. A drunken mistake. But then- she got pregnant." he said quietly. My eyes widened. "I didn't want to just leave her alone. It would be cruel to make her do that alone. And I thought- maybe- she could be there for you in a way I can't. I know she'll never replace Sirius. Trust me, I know nobody could ever replace him. But I can't do it alone and neither can you. I just wanted to do the right thing-" he said, choking back a sob. I stood up, hugging him tightly. "I know, dad. I know you're trying." I said. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just- I want you to be a kid- and not worry-" he said. I looked at him and smiled, wiping his tears. "It's ok. It's alright,dad. We're gonna be alright." I said. He nodded. "She- she's not that bad. Tonks- she's a good person." he said. "I know. I know she is." I said. "I just want to do right by you." he said. I hugged him again. "You are the best dad I could ask for. It's ok." I said. We stayed in the position, just holding each other for a while. Then the door opened. "Oh sorry- I just-" Tonk started. "It's ok. You can come in." I said. She nodded. "I'm sorry, Tonks. For before. I just- I was upset and Sirius-" I started. "Sirius is your father and I'll never replace him." she said. I nodded.
A few hours later passed and we were eating lunch and talking. That's when I heard the screams. My heart stopped. "Draco," I said. I ran upstairs and into my room and he was thrashing on the bed, screaming. I climbed onto the bed, pulling him into my arms and putting my full body weight against him. "Draco, wake up!" I yelled. His screams stopped and he looked around frantically, tears streaming down his cheeks as his body shook in a panic. "He's here! They're here, we have to go!" he yelled. "Shhhh, you're safe. Nobody is here. Nobody is coming. You're ok." I whispered. We locked eyes and I forced a smile. "I've got you. Just breathe." I whispered. He buried his face in my chest and I felt his tears on my shoulder. Dad and Tonks ran in and I shooed them out. "Give us a minute." I said. They nodded and left, shutting the door. "I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Anna. I saw them. I thought I saw them." he cried. "It's ok. I know." I said. I held him for a while until he finally calmed down. It broke my heart.
Later that night, Draco was sitting on my bed, looking out the window. "I'm not hungry." he said. "You haven't eaten in- I don't even know how long." I said. I walked over and his face was pale and sulken. "Draco, my dad and Tonks won't say anything. I had nightmares all the time too." I said. He shook his head. "I can't." he said quietly. "Draco, please come eat. You don't need to be ashamed or-" I started. 'No. That's not- that's not why." he said. I paused. I sat next to him and he wiped a tear from his cheek. "I can't sit at your dad's table and eat his food and accept his kindness. Not after this." he said, pulling up his sleeve. My eyes lingered on the dark mark and he pulled it back down. "Your dads saved me and healed me after my own father nearly killed me. He gave the Greengrass sisters a home and safety when I couldn't. He'd done nothing but help me. I can't sit there and lie to his face." he said. He looked at me and shook his head. "I don't want to disappoint him. And now I have and I- I can't." he said. I nodded, taking his hand in mine. "Ok." I said quietly. "He's a good person. And I'm not." he said. "Draco, I believe wholeheartedly that you are still a good person. You are just in a bad situation." I said. He gave a small smile. "You kept me alive when I thought I wouldn't be and I'm going to do the same. I'm going to keep you alive and I'm going to get you out of this. No matter what it takes." I said. He nodded. "Alright, Anna." he said. I'm going to get him out of this. I hope he'll be ok.
DRACO MALFOY She can't get me out of this. I hope she'll be ok.
