The Dragon in The Ice Fortress- Draco Malfoy

36

The morning after was drenched in heavy silence, the kind that clings to you like mist, refusing to dissipate. As pale sunlight crept through the cracks in the Room of Requirement, I lay tangled in thick blankets, my body still warm from the night before. Everything felt different now. The room, once a fortress of tension and shadows, now held the weight of our shared moment, of what we had become.

Draco slept beside me, his breathing steady, his features softened by the early light. His brow, usually etched with worry and anger, was now relaxed, free of the burdens that haunted him. I watched him for a moment, taking in this rare, peaceful version of him. A confusing mix of emotions tightened my chest—relief, regret, longing, and fear.

The reality pressed down on me. What had begun in a swirl of anger and passion left me tethered to him in ways I couldn't untangle. There was no going back to how things were, no pretending I could simply be the girl spying on Draco or the one trying to save him. I was bound to him, caught between two worlds.

That was how I knew I had become a double agent.

The moment Draco's lips met mine, everything shifted. The lines I had drawn between right and wrong began to blur. The anger that simmered between us melted into something more dangerous and complex. His touch was desperate, yet it grounded me, pulling me closer.

But it wasn't just the heat of the kiss that sealed my fate; it was the unspoken understanding that followed. As we pulled apart, breathless and shaken, I saw it in his eyes. Draco Malfoy was drowning, caught in a web of darkness and duty far beyond my imagination. And despite everything, I couldn't let him drown alone.

I had been so focused on what he was doing, what side he was on, but now I realized I had a part to play too. My loyalty to the Order, to Harry and the others, remained intact, but I couldn't just stand by and let Draco fall deeper into darkness. To help him, I had to be closer than anyone else.

It wasn't a decision made lightly. I knew what it meant: living in two worlds, one with Draco and one with the trio. I would have to navigate shadows and keep secrets from everyone I cared about. I would betray both sides, in a way, just to maintain a fragile balance.

I sat up slowly, careful not to wake him, wrapping a blanket around myself. The room had rearranged itself while we slept, adapting to our needs. A large window framed the morning sky, casting soft light over the remnants of last night—clothes tossed on the floor, books piled haphazardly on the desk where Draco had been working before everything changed.

As my mind raced through the events of the night, I replayed his words, the way his hands had clung to me, anchoring him to reality. It was easy to get lost in the intimacy, to forget the gravity of our situation.

Draco stirred beside me, his eyes fluttering open, and for a moment, the coldness melted away. He turned to meet my gaze, and there was a softness there that took me by surprise. "You stayed," he murmured, voice rough with sleep.

"I did," I replied, my heart racing. I wrapped my arms around my knees, feeling the weight of my decision.

He shifted closer, propping himself on one elbow, studying me. "You know you can't tell anyone," he said quietly, but there was a gentleness in his tone.

I nodded, my throat tight. I had known it the moment I walked back into the Room of Requirement, the moment I chose him.

Draco reached out, brushing a stray hair behind my ear, his touch lingering. "You're playing a dangerous game," he warned, but there was a warmth in his eyes that soothed my nerves. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"I know," I said softly, leaning into his touch. "But I want to help you, Draco. I can't just walk away from Harry, Hermione, Ron. They trust me, and I won't abandon them, not even for this." I gestured between us, the truth hanging in the air. "But I can stay close to them, keep my place... and watch out for you."

His gaze darkened slightly, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. "You think it's that simple? I'm already in too deep. We both are."

"I understand that," I said, my voice steady. "But this doesn't have to end in disaster. I don't want to fight you. I want to help you."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not just about you wanting to help. You're risking everything."

I leaned closer, resting my head against his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body. "I'm not asking for protection," I whispered. "I'm asking for a chance to do something good—for you, for us."

Draco's tension eased a fraction as he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me in. "You're stubborn," he said, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "But maybe that's what I need."

His warmth enveloped me, and for a moment, I let myself believe that perhaps there was still light in his heart. "I can keep them safe," I continued, pressing closer. "And maybe I can keep you safe too."

He was silent for a long moment, his gaze distant as if weighing everything I had said. Finally, he nodded, though doubt still lingered in his expression. "Be your double agent. But don't think it'll be easy. Sooner or later, you'll have to pick a side."

"I'm not choosing a side," I replied firmly, looking up at him. "I'm choosing you and them. I can balance it. I can be what you need and still be there for Harry and the others."

Draco looked away, frustration etched on his face. "If you're caught, if anyone finds out, it won't just be you who suffers."

"I know," I said softly, shifting even closer, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat. "But I believe we can find a way through this together."

For a moment, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by his usual stoicism. "You're playing with fire, Thalia," he warned, but his grip on me tightened just a little. "I can't protect you from everything."

"I'm not asking for that," I whispered, looking into his eyes. "I just need you to trust me."

He didn't respond, but the flicker in his gaze told me everything. It wasn't full trust yet, but it was something. And for now, that was enough.

Naively, I believed there was still light in his heart. I had seen the changes in him since becoming a Death Eater, but maybe, just maybe, I could keep that humanity alive in him.