in the end ~ d. malfoy

Chapter Fifty

July 2016

DRACO MALFOY IS CAPABLE OF MANY THINGS, but Diana never thought that kidnapping his own sister would be one of them.

The sky outside has faded from the pale pink of sunset to the inky black of night, dotted with stars that glitter like diamonds in the countryside his car is currently speeding through. Or rather - their car - that she was conveniently thrown in two hours ago, along with her entire wardrobe stuffed into a suitcase that Draco has haphazardly thrown in the trunk, with no explanation as to where they were going or how he managed to "borrow", in his haughty words, a car to get there. 

Diana's surprised they haven't crashed yet with the speed at which her brother is driving. 

"Y'know, this could be classified as a crime in most countries, " Diana muses, casually looking out the window, "Packing my things, dragging me into this car, taking me to an unknown second location, the law - dear brother - defines this as kidnapping, "

"I am not kidnapping you, " Draco rolls his eyes, grip tightening on the steering wheel, "I am simply relocating you somewhere safe, where you're much less likely to be murdered if you get into trouble, "

"You better be driving me across the sea then, " Diana scoffs, "I doubt that definition applies to anywhere in England as of late, "

"I considered it, " He replies, briefly meeting her eyes, "But then I realized that Mum would probably throw a fit if I chucked you all the way to your best friend's house, so this is the backup plan, "

"My best friend?" Diana laughs, amused at her brother's determination to evade the topic of his fascination with Maya Rajesh, "Is that all she is to you?"

"Is she supposed to be more?" Draco replies, blandly. Diana sees his jaw tighten as he looks out the window. 

"You don't usually steal your sister's phone in the middle of the night to have a heart-to-heart with her best friend, if that's how removed she is to you, " Diana snorts, noticing the way pink blooms at the tops of his cheekbones as Draco refuses eye contact, "You told her, right?"

"More like she kissed me before running off to fight the very battle that put our father in prison, " He mutters, darkly. 

Diana's heart drops into her stomach, "Don't you dare blame her for what happened, "

"I'm not, " He glances at her, briefly, before turning back to the road, "I know that she had nothing to do with it. But given our . . . . . circumstances . . . . I don't think it's wise to take this any further, "

"You've never been this practical before, " Diana muses, "What happened to the Draco who insisted on cuddling with his toy broom every night because he insisted that it would give him the power to fly like a dragon?"

Her brother's ears turn red, "Shut up, "

"I'm just saying, she clearly makes you happy, " Diana sighs, "Merlin knows you could use some of that in your life right now, "

"I'd rather keep Maya out of this than keep myself happy, " Draco swallows, avoiding her eyes. 

"You're going to have to tell her someday, y'know, " Diana brushes her hand lightly over his left arm, "About what happened this summer. It'll be ugly if she finds out herself, "

"It's not the right time, " Draco gently pushes her hand away, "Besides, she's clearly dealing with her own issues right now. I don't want to add to everything by divulging the fact that I'm now a future murderer. Current, if you keep pushing me like you are right now,"

"Since when are you this considerate?" Diana snickers, "God, she's really got you whipped for her, hasn't she?"

"If you bring this up one more time - " Draco groans, through clenched teeth.