DRIPS OF FANCY - draco malfoy

↳ 𝑐ℎ𝑝．26

The vivid rumblings in her dream felt so real, so intense that it shook Alvena awake, her body drenched in cold sweat. The images flashed before her—Hogwarts, but it was different. The castle was crumbling, dark clouds swirling above it, thunder crashing through the corridors, and the very ground beneath it trembling as if it were about to split open. It was as if the entire world was falling apart. Her heart raced, her breath shallow and erratic, and she could feel the weight of the vision pressing down on her chest.
"Alvena?" Draco's voice broke through her panic, soft yet steady. His hand was already on her shoulder, his presence grounding her. She could feel the warmth of him beside her, his breath on her neck, and in that moment, the dark images of her dream seemed to fade, leaving only the gentle rhythm of his touch.
"I'm fine," she whispered, even though she could still feel the remnants of the vision clawing at her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push it away.
"Relax," Draco murmured. "It's just a dream." He pulled her into a tighter embrace, his voice low and soothing. "We'll be leaving soon. The sun's already rising."
She nodded, still shaking slightly, her body trying to settle. The vision had unsettled her more than she wanted to admit, but Draco's arms around her were the only thing that made her feel safe. He was right—there was no use worrying about it now.
Just as she thought she might finally slip back into a peaceful sleep, there was a soft knock at the door, followed by the clear voice of a maid. "The carriage is waiting for you Miss Blythe," she called out, her voice almost muffled through the thick wood. "I'll be off to have Master Draco get ready as well."
Alvena blinked, startled by the interruption. She pulled herself away from Draco's chest and sat up, the warmth of his embrace lingering on her skin. "Don't worry about it, i'll go wake Draco myself," she said, her voice still thick with sleep, and with a stubbornness that only Alvena seemed to carry.
The maid, clearly unaccustomed to being contradicted, hesitated for a moment but eventually relented. "Are you sure, Miss Blythe," she said, her tone polite but with a hint of uncertainty. "Mister Malfoy's room is right down the hall, I wouldn't want to trouble you."
"I know," Alvena replied, though her gaze shifted toward Draco, who was now stretching and rubbing his eyes. " I'll handle it. I know Draco best. He can be... difficult in the mornings."
"Very well."
As the maid's footsteps faded, Draco turned toward Alvena with a frown, rubbing his eyes once more. "I'm not grumpy," he muttered, clearly still half-asleep.
"Yes, you are," Alvena countered, smirking as she watched him sit up in bed. "Every morning, at breakfast especially. It's like you have a permanent scowl etched on your face until noon."
Draco scowled deeper, but there was no malice behind it, only the grogginess of someone who wasn't quite awake yet. "I'm just not a morning person," he argued, but Alvena only raised an eyebrow.
"You know," she added, her voice playful yet firm, "I don't think my father would appreciate it if he found out we slept in the same bed." She paused, eyes glinting. "Just saying."
Draco's frown faltered, and a small, amused smirk crept onto his lips. "I don't mind defying Mister Blythe," he said, his voice light with teasing.
They both laughed softly, the tension of the previous moments slowly ebbing away. But Alvena knew they couldn't linger. She had things to do, and Draco needed to get moving.
"Go on," she said, nudging him gently. "Get dressed. I need to change."
"Can I stay and enjoy the show?" Draco asked, his eyes flicking to her with an impish grin.
Alvena kicked him lightly in the shin. "Out. Now."
He groaned dramatically, but Alvena was already halfway out of bed, pushing him gently toward the door. "Fine, fine," he muttered, but there was a hint of humor in his tone as he complied.
By the time Alvena had changed into an elegant white corseted dress and made her way downstairs, the house had already begun to stir. The Malfoys were in the grand sitting room, waiting for her, their expressions unreadable as they watched her enter. Her mother caught her eye first, and without a word, she stood and wrapped her daughter in a tight, protective hug.
"Be careful," Lilith whispered in her ear, her voice filled with an edge of worry that Alvena hadn't expected. "You're going into dangerous waters. I don't know if we'll be able to keep you safe much longer."
Alvena nodded, though her heart felt heavy. She knew that her mother was right. The truth of her heritage—the prophecy that seemed to hang over her like a dark cloud—was becoming undeniable.
After a few moments, her mother released her, and Alvena turned to find her father, standing slightly apart, his eyes narrowed as though contemplating something deeply.
"Come along, Alvena," William said, his voice curt. "We've wasted enough time. You'll be leaving for Blythe Manor immediately."
When they reached the front door, Draco was already waiting. He gave her a small smile, but she could see the worry behind his eyes.
Her mother embraced her once more, holding her tightly as though she were afraid to let go. "Take care," Lilith said again, her voice filled with something deeper now. "Be careful. And don't trust anyone. Not even the closest to you."
Alvena only nodded, the weight of her mother's words sinking deep.
She and Draco climbed into the carriage without a word, the door closing behind them with a soft thud. As the carriage took off, the world outside blurred into a fast-moving streak of green fields and distant woods. Their destination was clear: Wylth Manor.
"Do you think we'll be safe there?" Alvena asked quietly, her gaze focused on the road ahead.
Draco looked at her, his face unreadable for a moment, then his lips curled into a soft smile. "No. But we'll survive."