Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

(Summer) Year 4- Ch. 22

Once they reached the trees they all looked back at the hooded figures. The crowd around them grew larger than ever. People, Céline assumed was the ministry, seemed like they were fighting their way through with great difficulty.

"Poor Roberts' family..." Hermione said, holding back her tears. Ron rubbed her back in comfort.

They kept moving deeper into the woods. The lights that illuminated the pathway are now extinguished. Céline winced at the cries of children and the panic voices that echoed through the trees. She held onto Harry's hand so that she didn't get separated. The dark figures of people were pushing and bumping into everyone. Harry gripped her hand tighter.

Then they heard Ron yell with pain. They all stopped when Hermione stopped. "What happened?" She looked around, unable to see anything. Out of frustration she sighed sharply, "this is ridiculous, Lumos."

She directed her lit wand towards Ron's voice where he was found sprawled out on the ground.

"I tripped on a tree root." He said as he got back up.

"Well, with feet that big, it would be hard not too."

Harry, Hermione, and Céline whipped their heads around to see Draco standing there leaning on a tree. His eyes quickly finding Céline, his eyes trailed down to her hand that was clasped in Harry's and he frowned.

Ron spat out a string of curse words to Draco.

"Language, Weasley." Draco's eyes moved to Ron. "Shouldn't you be moving along now? You wouldn't her spotted, would you?" His eyes darted to Hermione.

At that moment, a blast was heard at the nearby campsite momentarily illuminating the trees in green before fading. Céline yelped and flinched, as she looked behind her into the darkness of the woods.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione huffed.

"Granger, they're after muggles." Draco said, still leaning against the tree, eyes back to Céline. "Do you want your knickers in midair? Because if you do, then go ahead and hang around." Céline whipped her head back to Draco, her eyebrows furrowed. "They're heading in this direction, it would give us all a laugh." He smirked as he looked back at Hermione .

"Hermione is a witch." Harry snarled.

Draco shrugged, "Have it your way, Potter. If you think they can't spot a mudblood, then feel free to stay."

Ron was about to speak up, but Céline beat him to it. "Malfoy, how can you say that!" She looked offended. He looked back at Céline and frowned.

"And you Everhart, what are you doing right now? Why are you not with your father?" He glared at her. "Come here and stay with me, you will be safer here than with them."

Harry stepped in front of Céline, "where are your parents, Malfoy? Out there wearing masks?"

Céline looked at Harry stunned from the accusation, she looked at Draco again and he just smiled. "Well... if they were, I wouldn't tell you, would I, Potter?" He looked back at Céline, his smile gone. "Everhart, you should stay here. Your father is less likely to be upset if he found you with me, than with the lot of them."

Céline stiffened at the thought of her father. Draco was right. Her father would be livid if he saw her with Harry, Hermione and Ron. She looked between Draco and her friends, unsure what to do.

Just then there was another blast just on the other side of the trees, much louder than the other ones they've heard. People behind them screamed, making Céline jump.

"I'll take my chances, Malfoy." She said shakily. Draco's gray eyes turned cold, they swirled with so many emotions. All of them unreadable to the people who stood in front of him.

"Come on." Hermione said, "we have to go find the others." As she pulls Ron's arm, away from Draco. Harry pulled Céline along by the hand to follow them. Just as she passed Draco, he grabbed her free hand. She stopped and looked at him. He was looking at her intently.

"Be careful...." he said so quietly, only she was able to hear, before letting go and walking away. Before she could say anything back Harry pulled her along again.

Author's notes:

So this is a bit shorter, just because after this so much stuff is about to go down.

Thanks for reading!

xoxo -Mari