Equinox

sixteen

AN- Chapter song: Big Jet Plane by Angus and Julie Stone

When I startle awake, I notice it wasn't my nightmare that awoke me. It was the sound of my door scratching shut against the floorboards. My spine snaps upward and my wand is in hand pointing at the figure who'd just entered my room. Only it's a mop of tussled white hair stood like a statue with his hands up in surrender.

"You shouldn't be in here, Draco." I drawl with annoyance. Because invading my mind wasn't enough for him, he also needed to invade my personal space. I relax my limbs but keep the wand tightly wrapped between my fingers.

"Believe me, Aspen," he says with personality, unlike his typical monotoned mannerisms. "I know I shouldn't have stormed in here, especially since you were sleeping, but I swear on Merlin that it wasn't of my own volition."

We'd gotten back to the house late last night, Corvus needed to send the Death Eaters on a goose chase so they wouldn't follow us back to the safehouse. I was all but too exhausted after yesterday's events to even bother staying awake for anything besides the walk up the stairs to my room. But I did however hear the argument between Corvus and Theo before dosing off for the night. Apparently, Theo will have Draco as a roommate longer than just at Grimmauld Place.

I groan and drop set my wand in my lap and pull my hair up to tie it. His presence is already suffocating enough, the hair sticking to the back of my neck isn't helping either. "What are you even on about?" I groan. "It's already sounding like bullshit."

He winces at my vulgarity. "I couldn't sleep all night," he admits with pleading eyes and he's yet to even ask me of anything. "I swear you can feel it too—I-I can't be the only one. I'm not sure what a soul tie feels like, but since I've been closer to you something feels different."

I sigh, he's right. A magnetic pull is begging to find him. Only, I can fight it better than him, because I haven't given any thought to storming into his room at any point in the last day. "You're almost seventeen, Draco," I snap at him. "If your manly urges are becoming unbearable, have a wank in the shower like a normal teenage boy."

He rolls his eyes and slowly shows his impatience. "Can I just test something to see if it helps," he asks, and I stiffen at his forwardness. Is he asking to shag right now? "Head out of the Quidditch Pitch, Aspen." The corners of his lips turn upward slightly, like he's enjoying the fact that I thought about us rolling up in my bed right now. Nausea washes over me, and I press the back of my palm to my forehead to wipe away the sweat. "I wasn't suggesting that," he teases stepping closer to me until he's a armlength away, "I only want to see if touching you will sedate the tie."

I scooch away from him, and my shoulder hits the wall. I'm suddenly aware of how little I'm wearing. The only clothing covering my body is a tank top with thin straps and shorts. I pull my blanket further up my body in a way he wouldn't notice.

He slowly reaches out a hand but pauses for a moment to catch my eyes. "May I hold your hand for just a moment?" he asks kindly. The sort of tone that is trustworthy, except I know it's a façade. He isn't trustworthy. He's proven every moment that he's not someone I could trust.

Except, the urge to be near him is growing unbearable, and I wonder how much it would hurt to just hold his hand for a quick second. So, I slowly and unsurely nod my head and hesitantly take his extended right hand in my left one. He looks away and the small muscle over the corner of his jaw flexes. The sudden contact reminded me of every reason I'd loved him to begin with. His hand fit mine perfectly. The skin across his body is still as warm and comforting as it last was. My eyes nearly roll to the back of my head at the sheer familiarity, the first comfort I've felt since before the cell. It's like every sound in the world went on mute.