Stuck with a Slytherin

16.1: "Mama, I swear..."

Draco's POV

I woke up with a start to screams echoing throughout the Manor.

I bolted out of bed, barely noticing that I was still wearing my jeans and sweater from yesterday, and ran down the hall in search of the source.

Of course, my first priority was my mom, then my dad. After that, I didn't really care, the house-elves would be fine.

But as I neared my parents' door, I realized that the screams weren't coming from there. (Yes, they were still consistent.)

I frowned in confusion before remembering that Y/n was staying with us. My heart jumped out of my chest in fear and I raced back down the hall, almost slipping as my socks came into contact with the hardwood floors.

And the closer I got to her room, the more I panicked. The shrill cries were definitely her.

I shoved open the door to see her thrashing, screaming, and crying in her bed.

I quickly went over to her and pulled her towards me in the bed, kneeling next to her head. Her screams only intensified when I touched her shoulders, though, so I had to come up with something else.

I laid down in front of her, making sure that the covers were wrapped around her but not me. She was still writhing around in the bed, and wouldn't stay still for even a few moments.

I grabbed her shoulders again, but this time I was faster, pulling her into me in a hug. She curled up instantly as her head rested on my chest, and her shrieking subsided, though she was still sobbing uncontrollably.

I held her trembling body as she cried against me, trying to relieve as much of her pain as I could.

The bruises on her face were still prominent, and I'm sure she was still hurting everywhere else as well. But right now, all that mattered was that she was okay. She was safe.

After almost 45 minutes (according to the clock on the wall), she had stopped crying completely, and had fallen into a restful sleep.

I attempted to get up after 15 more minutes (as it was 3 am, and I'd like to get more sleep), but the second I removed my arm from around her, she whimpered. I hesitantly replaced my arm, and laid my head down on her pillow, relaxing fully.

Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep as well.

•••

I woke up early, to the sound of the door opening. Gasping quietly at the girl in my arms (I'd forgotten she was there... why did I feel butterflies?), I looked at the door to see my mom standing there with a bright smile on her face.

I rolled my eyes and stood up, trying my best to ignore the whimper that escaped Y/n as I removed my arm from around her.

"Mama, I swear, it isn't anything intimate." I pleaded as I watched her.

"Sure, hon. Now, why don't you freshen up, and then come down for breakfast?" I could tell she didn't believe me.

"Okay. See you in a few." I rolled my eyes as she smirked and closed the door.

I huffed and opened the door again, gently shutting it behind me before heading to my room.

I pulled out some black jeans with a few rips, a white T-shirt, and a green zip-up hoodie, then headed to the bathroom.

I showered, making sure to style my hair afterwards, and got dressed. I looked in the mirror, ran the comb through my hair one more time, then took a breath and headed downstairs.

As I reached the dining room, I saw Y/n at the table, her arms crossed in front of her, with her forehead laying on them.

I walked up to her and rested a hand on her shoulder, then removed it quickly when she flinched.

"Hey, Y/n, how are you feeling?"

She shrugged, and I moved to sit next to her, motioning to an elf to bring some breakfast for both of us. I could tell she was tense as she stayed in her head-down position, even if she looked relaxed.

"You wanna talk about what happened?" I asked her tentatively.

She shrugged again.

Just then, my mom walked in from the living room, and as she sat down across from us (weird, she normally sits at the end), the house-elf brought in a stack of pancakes.

Mom nodded at the elf before speaking. "Lucius has the day off of work today, so he should be in to join us for breakfast any second."

Y/n's head snapped up, and I heard her breath quicken a bit. I debated for a second whether or not to grab her hand, before deciding against it. She doesn't like touch. I understand why, and I'll respect it. I wish I could provide some comfort, though.

"W-when is he getting here?" She spoke up.

Mom smiled. "He'll be here any minute now- Oh! Here he is!" She stood up from her chair and pecked my dad on the lips, her smile growing as I groaned at her.

But it didn't slip my attention the way Y/n's eyes were darting around fearfully, wincing at the smallest sounds from the kitchen, her breathing quickening even more.

I shoved all of my doubts aside and reached for her hand, which was sitting in her lap, and had to repress the smile that wanted to invade my face when she didn't pull back, though she flinched.

"Okay, Luci's here, now let's eat." My mom kept up her smile, and sat back down; my dad sat beside her.

We all enjoyed the breakfast, keeping the table full of conversation and small-talk as we ate. Well, most of us ate. Y/n barely took a few bites.

Maybe it was because I was holding her right hand? No, because she was left-handed. Maybe she doesn't like it? Maybe... I don't know. I'll have to ask her later.

But after my mom asked her if she wanted some other food instead, she just said she wasn't hungry, and stood up to leave. All three of us watched as she walked down the hallway and up the stairs.

My hand still tingled happily from when she was holding it.