Defend

Chapter Forty-FourWell Deserved Graffiti

Ginny and I take it into account to protect Silwel the next week or so, having Luna watch him in the common room. We tell all the DA members, having made Silwel the youngest member, to protect the younger students in their house. There is a smaller number of first and second years, as some wizarding parents decided against sending their children to Hogwarts because of the danger.

And with each passing day, I understand more and more why my parents didn't want me coming back. In fact, I received a letter from my parents asking me how everything's going. I tell them the sugar-coated truth, that the professors, leaving out the valuable word some, are protecting us. I'm sticking close to my friends, and studying hard to be an Auror one day.

~~~

I drag myself into the Slytherin common room after a day of exhausting classes and homework to finish. Neville said he'd meet me in the greenhouse to help me with my Herbology homework. That class just makes zero sense to me. I'm so glad I have Neville to help me.

Sitting down on the couch, I try to follow Blaise, Pansy, and Draco's conversation but am so tired I don't even care if they're planning my murder. I want to cuddle with Draco, so I tap his arm softly.

"Hey Dray," I say faintly.

He turns around and gives me an out of character soft look, cupping my face in his hands.

"Hold on, I'll get to you, my love."

I blush at his gentleness and go to my dorm to get my Herbology things, then start walking to the greenhouse, where Neville's waiting.

"I'm warning you now, I am so bloody tired."

"That's okay, I can do your wo— help you later. Do you um, mind if I ask you something?"

I drop my stuff and sit on a stool next to him. "Anything."

"Can I braid some flowers into your hair? I wanted to practise because I want to do it on Luna. Luna has really long hair though, but yours is longer than Ginny's, so I just wanted to ask. You don't have to though," he adds quickly.

I smile. That's so adorable. "Of course."

He walks around the greenhouse, delicately picking gorgeous flowers. Neville walks back over to me and sits down behind me, and begins french braiding flowers into my hair. He's surprisingly soft, and when he's done he smiles proudly.

"You like?"

I walk over to the greenhouse window, and flip my head around, glancing at my reflection in the window.

"I love it," I say softly, more tired than ever. "I'm sure Luna will love it too. Thank you so much."

~~~~

As soon as I walk back into the common room Draco jumps out from behind a pillar and grabs me, making me drop my stuff. I laugh with him and my exhausted body can't find the power to resist, letting him drag me to his dorm. He throws me on his bed, and pulls the covers nicely around us, wrapping me in his arms.

"What did you call me earlier?" he asks softly, his warm breath on my neck pushing me further into enervation.

"Dray," I murmur, pushing my head against his chest, barely able to stay awake for another second.

~~~~

I awake to the comforting smell of apple mahogany. Dray's arms around me makes me feel so safe, and I don't want to ever move. Draco however, pushes me up, resting my still tired body in his lap.

"Who braided your hair?" he asks in a raspy morning voice.

"Neville." I respond tiredly.

"And why would he do that?" I catch hints of suspicion in his scratchy voice.