Stay With Me | Draco Malfoy [2]

Chapter 14 - Godfather

Italics is flashback

TW: Very slight swearing

Katianne's POV

It was the Christmas holidays. Harry, Hermione, the Weasley siblings and I went to 12 Grimmauld Place; though Elliot went back home. Everyone was downstairs, opening gifts probably; while I stayed upstairs in a bedroom, reading a book.

Even though it was the holiday season, I didn't really feel like celebrating. A lot of things have happened throughout the year; though people could argue and say that because of that, you should stop, take a breath, and then get back to it. But me, on the other hand, think that if I keep my guard down even for a small while, the worst could happen; and I wouldn't even see it coming.

As I skimmed past the words, going into my little world of fiction and fairy tales, I heard a knock on the door, snapping me out of my daydream of stories. Standing at the doorway was my godfather, Sirius; him leaning on the doorway as his right hand was in his pocket. I sighed, looking back down again at the book, staring to read again.

"Harry's downstairs." I stated, though he responded with, "I'm not looking for Harry." pushing himself off of the door frame and walking over to me, sitting down at the end of the bed. Finally, I looked up from the book, a curious glint in my eyes as I slowly put in my bookmark, shutting the book and setting it down on my lap.

"What're you reading?" Sirius asked straightforwardly, me slightly furrowing my eyebrows in confusion as I muttered a quiet answer. "What is it about?" He then asked; to which I responded, yet again, with a simple, short answer.

He asked a few more questions, me answering quietly each of those times, before he finally said, "I know Harry usually gets most of the attention. But just know, I love both of you exactly the same; and if you ever want to talk to me, write to me, you're more than welcome to."

As he said what he said, love and warmth spilling out along with each and one of those words, I felt a smile starting to grow on my face. I haven't felt pure happiness in a long time, h*ll, I have never experienced anything like this; a fathers love. Sure, I have friends there for me, and of course my brother; but never has a man that I can proudly call my father figure ever been there for me; well, that is, until now.

And with all of the feelings I felt, my face lit up with pure joy, I murmured a simple, "Okay." Though in those plain, four letters, that make up an even more plain word, I filled it with every single one of the emotions I experienced coursing through my veins.

Sirius patted my knee two times before standing up, walking out of the room again and closing the door behind him; as well as me going back to reading my book, though this time with a grin on my face.

Time skip

Christmas holidays have ended, and we all went back to Hogwarts; in fact, it has already been a few days of school, which means Harry's classes going back to normal; though, if I may, I would prefer to call is Harry and I's classes, seeing as the both of us started it, not just him.

Since I no longer teach the students along with my twin, we decided to give me another job, other than leading the Inquisitorial Squad away from Dumbledore's Army; I now check the Room of Requirement, just in case any kid was left behind.

Today when I went in, I located a dark haired boy staring at a mirror, which had photos and papers stuck onto it. After walking closer to him, I realised it was Neville... staring at a moving group photo that contained his parents.

"Neville?" I called out, standing next to the dark haired boy. I noticed the miserable look that masked his face; his eyebrows furrowed, his brown eyes filled with distress, his lips quivering ever so slightly. Silence filled the air, though Neville started talking, breaking the quietude.

"Fourteen years ago... a death eater named... Bellatrix Lestrange used a Cruciatus Curse on my parents. She tortured them... for information, but... they never gave in. I'm quite proud to be their son. But- I'm not sure I'm ready for everyone to know just yet."

As he uttered out those words, I felt nothing but sympathy for this Gryffindor boy. Everyone has been so caught up with what happened to Harry and I all of those years ago, no one even bothered to ask how Neville was doing, or any other student for Merlin's sake.

Quietness fell upon us yet again as I thought about what I was going to say. "We will make them proud, Neville." I managed to start saying, taking a deep breath. "And I swear to that." The both of us looked back at the moving image, seeing everyone together.

Yet again, the Gryffindor boy spoke up. "Thank you." He muttered. "For what?" I quizzed. "For listening. You might not admit it to yourself, but you are a great person. Even with everyone pestering you with these irritating opinions, you still do your best to help us; all of us. And you don't get all of the credit for it."

I stared up at him one last time, feeling my heart flutter at his words. I've never thought of it like that. I have always thought that I was just helping around, here and there; but now that I really think about it, I have been a great help to everyone, and no one's ever thanked me for it.

I didn't know how much I needed it, a recognition; a thank you. With a smile on my face, I said, "It's getting late. Why don't we get out of here?" Neville nodded as the both of us left the Room of Requirement, talking as if we were old friends before separating to go back to our own house common rooms.

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