The Other Potter (Draco Malfoy Endgame)

Finding Comfort in the Arms of the Right Man

Chapter 22

The next morning as Alexis and Draco were getting ready to leave the Great Hall, they didn't see much point in hiding after the fight yesterday. It had drawn quite a crowd by the end. George and Fred appeared beside her. They smiled mischievously at the group, "We suggest," Fred started. "If you want to avoid an uncomfortable situation," George popped in. "You stay out of the upstairs corridors," Fred continued. "Until later today that is." George finished.

Alexis gave them a suspicious look, "What are you two up to now?" Fred and George grinned broadly at her. "We think we've reached the end of our educational obligations," Fred told her happily. "And we figured we'd go out with one last bit of mischief," George explained.

She looked over at Draco and sent a thought into his head, "Please don't go to Umbridge about this." She turned back to Fred and George, taking George's hand, "Just be careful ok, I heard she's gotten approval for whipping students. I don't want to watch that happen to you guys, okay?"

George's smile softened, "Don't worry about us we've got a quick getaway already planned." The brothers gave her a quick wink before disappearing off down the corridor. Draco gave her a look, "You know Umbridge is going to be murderous over another prank."

Alexis shrugged as they headed off to the library, "If George promises something I trust him. Besides he and Fred have been ready to leave this place for months." The two sat down in the library and set their books out for Transfiguration. Alexis planned to work through one class until Draco had each one down well enough to pass his O.W.Ls.

As Alexis was trying to explain the finer points of how Transfiguration Draco got distracted by the way she got when she was this passionate about something. The way she moved her hands and the tone in her voice. Everything about her was fascinating to him.

"Are you even listening?" Alexis asked him as she realized he had stopped responding. He gave her an awkward smile before shrugging. "Draco you have to focus, I want to help you but I can't if you zone out on me."

"You're right, I'm sorry," He told her scooting his chair right so close that the whole left side of their body was touching. The heat from his body was seeping through warming her whole body. She looked into his mesmerizing blue eyes and started to lose herself in them. It was like jumping into the ocean and slowly sinking beneath the surface. The heat built inside them both until they gave in their lips crashed into each other and blue light flared around them causing the nearby students to look over in shock.

As the light glowed around them it began to take on an odd look. Almost as if the light was reflecting through water. The light vanished as quickly as it appeared as the couple pulled apart. They were so absorbed in each other that neither of them noticed the curious looks of the students studying nearby.

As lunchtime approached they packed up their books and headed out of the library. They were greeted by a scene similar to when her favorite teacher got fired. A huge crowd was gathered in front of the Great Hall in a circle around someone.

They rushed over to see the twins standing in front of Umbridge. Just then two broomsticks came speeding overhead. Fred and George both caught one and immediately jumped into the air and told everyone, "If anyone is interested in our Portable Swamps come see us at our new shop in Diagon Alley. Discounts to any student who promises to use them to get rid of the toad!"

"Stop them!" Umbridge screamed as the two boys flew out and disappeared from view. "I may not like them but even I have to admit that was a hell of an exit," Draco said with a grin. Alexis smiled back as they headed in to eat lunch.

Later that night as curfew was getting close Alexis started to pack up her books. Draco came up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist. "Hey, I wanted to ask you something darling." Alexis turned in his arms to face him. He pulled her closer and continued, "I know your visions keep you up a lot at night. If it would help you, you could just stay with me at night. So I could be there for you when they get bad."

Alexis smiled softly at him, "You don't have to do that. It's sweet but I don't want you to feel obligated."

"It's not obligation, darling. I care about you and I hate the thought of you suffering by yourself. Just stay here with me, let me take care of you," he told her tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Okay, since you are insisting. Thanks, I think my roommates might kick me out if I wake them up screaming again. I should go get something to wear. I can't fall asleep in my uniform again," She turned to start for the door before Draco pulled her back. "Don't be silly you can just wear one of my shirts. You're at least a foot shorter than me so it should be like a dress on you."

Alexis blushed brightly but agreed. She stood there awkwardly as Draco went and pulled a shirt out for her. He turned around so she could change out of her clothes. It took every ounce of self-restraint he had not to peek over his shoulder as she slipped into his shirt. Her hand touched his shoulder and his mind went blank as he turned. Seeing her in his clothes made him a bit weak in the knees.

"Your shirt is ridiculously soft, I'm a little jealous," she told him rubbing her hand over the fabric. This girl was going to be the death of him he thought as he watched her watched her. "It uhh, it looks good on you. I mean anything looks great on you of course. I uhh.." Alexis cut him off kissing him. He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around him. The world melted away and all that mattered was his lips against hers.

A few hours after they had fallen asleep her dreams shifted, a dark room with a shimmering curtain. She watched as Sirius came into view as a fight began, spells flying all around before a green spell hit him in the chest. He fell almost in slow motion, his body rigid as his eyes glazed over unseeing. The vision twisted as Mattheo held his arm out to his father. He winced slightly as the dark mark bloomed on his forearm. Someone handed him a mask and he put it on and joined the rest of the Death Eaters nearby. The vision swirled again as Draco was on his knees in front of the Dark Lord, "You betrayed me Draco, and for what a girl? I'm going to give you one last chance. You will kill him for me if you fail me again I won't hesitate to kill you. Do you understand?" Draco nodded slowly before pain tore through his body. The hooded figure had cast Crucio and wasn't stopping. Draco's screams echoed through the room. The screams stopped as the Dark Lord knelt pressing his wand into Draco's arm and the dark mark appeared.

Alexis jerked awake as a scream rang out from deep within her chest. Draco, instantly pulled her into him holding her close. He whispered in her ear over and over, "It's ok, I'm here everything is fine. Breathe just breathe."

Alexis gripped his arms fighting with her mind to come back to reality. After what seemed like an eternity the screams in her head finally quieted and she looked into Draco's eyes. Her normally bright eyes now looked haunted and sunken. He pulled her into his lap and rocked her as he ran his fingers through her hair. He kissed the top of her head as she cried into his chest.

"Everything is going to be alright. I know you are seeing terrible things that are going to happen but that doesn't mean things won't be ok in the end. Someday all of this will be a distant memory and life will be good again." It broke his heart to see her like this. He wanted to fix everything for her, take away the pain and sorrow. She deserved to be happy, not to wake up every night screaming in horror.

She stayed curled up in Draco's lap just drinking in the feel of his arms wrapped around her. She finally fell back asleep and he laid her down next to him. He pulled her close and fell asleep with his head buried in her hair. The scent of roses was the last thing he smelled before sleep overtook him.

Easter break ended but things continued to pass the same for Alexis, classes and studying with Draco until curling up with him at night. Her visions continued unchanging still waking her up every night and Draco would hold her until she fell back to sleep.

She requested to change seats with Blaise in potions and after some initial hesitation, Snape finally agreed and let her move next to Draco. As Mattheo came in and sat down Snape called out to Blaise and directed him to his new seat. Mattheo's head snapped back to Alexis and Draco, "You are going to regret choosing him over me."