The Other Potter (Draco Malfoy Endgame)

Ignoring and Issue Doesn't Help

Chapter 12

Alexis woke early sneaking down the stairs, the quiet of the common room was almost deafening as she tiptoed back to her room. She grabbed her things and headed to the showers. She felt her mind and body finally relax as the hot water spilled over her. When she felt ready to face the day she got dressed and headed back to grab her books for the day. She waited in the common room for her friends to make it down so they could head to breakfast.

Draco came down the stairs and saw her sitting there, it was still early for most of the other students to be up yet. "Good morning," he said walking over and sitting down next to her. She smiled but didn't respond.

"Are you okay? You seem off this morning," Draco looked at her his concern plainly visible on his face. She nodded and took a deep breath, "Just didn't sleep very well. I get nightmares and after waking up over and over I just give up on sleep being an option."

Draco smiled sadly knowing all too well how nightmares could wreak havoc on a person, "If you ever want to talk about it, I'm always here for you." He touched her hand comfortingly before heading out to breakfast, he turned around and smiled, "By the way, I hope you liked the rose." He turned and left, leaving Alexis alone as her eyes widened in shock. She sat there wondering why Draco would have sent her anything for Christmas let alone a rose.

Her friends came downstairs and Mattheo ran to her and immediately lifted her looking at her adoringly before kissing her tenderly. "I missed waking up with you in my arms princess," he whispered as he set her back on her feet. She blushed deeply telling him to shush with a smack to the chest.

Theo and Enzo walked backward in front of them teasing them. "Oh, Mattheo you're so handsome and sweet and wonderful," Theo batted his eyelashes and faked swooning into Enzo's arms. "Princess you're all I think about, I can't even last a minute without you by my side," Enzo said looking into Theo's eyes romantically. Alexis laughed at their ridiculous behavior as Mattheo knocked Theo's legs out from under him. Theo jumped up brushing the dust from his clothes and mumbled "rude" under his breath.

They rushed through breakfast and sat through a long day of classes. Umbridge was brutal to the four who had left before the last term ended calling on them for every question and calling them out for any tiny infraction to her rigid rules. She assigned them extra homework on top of what everyone else was given as well.

The mountain of homework continued through the week and it became obvious that this term was going to be way more difficult. They spend all night in the library with a short break for dinner. They all worked together to make sure everyone was keeping up. Alexis helped work out a schedule to make sure they didn't fall behind in any classes. They all went and collapsed into bed as soon as they could. Their brains were unable to handle anymore that day.

Alexis woke again haunted by her dreams and snuck into Mattheo's room again falling back asleep in his arms. The next morning at breakfast whispers echoed through the Great Hall. Curious as to what everyone was going on about, Alexis snatched the Daily Prophet out of Draco's hands with a smirk and he started to protest but it died on his lips as he realized it was her. He smiled for a moment before shaking his head and staring down at his plate.

"There's been a mass breakout from Azkaban, ten death eaters escaped. They are claiming radicals who want to bring down the Ministry are responsible. Is Fudge so terrified of admitting the truth he has to feed this shit to the Prophet?" Alexis shoved the paper away disgusted by the absurdity of its contents.

Enzo grabbed it and read through the whole paper. "Well at least Harry and Dumbledore aren't on the front page again for lying and spreading unrest," he tried to sound reassuring. Mattheo shook his head, "Enzo who do you think is being implied as the radicals who want to bring down the ministry?" They all fell silent as the implication sunk in.