Draco Malfoy and the Girl Who Hid

47

The moon hung heavy and full in the night sky, casting a soft glow over the estate. Yn found herself wandering the corridors, her mind restless and tangled with thoughts. It had been days since she'd arrived here with Draco, and every moment spent in his presence seemed to chip away at the walls she had built around herself. She found herself drawn to him, even if it made her uneasy.

Tonight, she hadn't been able to sleep, her thoughts too loud to ignore. She drifted toward the library, a place she'd taken to retreating to whenever her thoughts became too much. But as she rounded the corner, she saw Draco sitting in one of the armchairs, a book open on his lap, his gaze distant as he stared into the fireplace.

He looked up when she entered, his expression softening. "Couldn't sleep?"

She shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself as she stood in the doorway. He gestured to the seat across from him, and after a brief hesitation, she walked over and sat down, the warmth from the fire soothing her nerves.

They sat in silence for a few moments, the crackling of the fire the only sound between them. Finally, Draco broke the silence, his voice low and tentative.

"Do you ever think about what it would be like to be free of all this?" He kept his gaze on the fire, his expression contemplative. "To just... walk away and never look back?"

She studied him, her heart clenching at the vulnerability in his voice. She had never seen him like this before, so open and unguarded. She wanted to believe him, to trust that this side of him was real, but a part of her still held back, wary of his motives.

"It's not that simple," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "We can't just walk away. You know that as well as I do."

He nodded, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Yes, I suppose I do. But sometimes, I can't help but wish things were different."

He looked over at her, his gaze intense, and she felt her heart skip a beat. "We're both trapped, Yn. Trapped in this twisted game, forced to play roles we never wanted."

She swallowed, her chest tightening as his words sank in. She knew he was right — they were both prisoners, caught in a web of power and control that seemed impossible to escape. But admitting that felt like giving in, like accepting that there was no hope for a better future.

"I don't know how to do this," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know how to be strong enough to survive."

Draco reached out, his hand covering hers in a gesture that was both gentle and reassuring. "You don't have to do this alone, Yn. I'm here with you. And I'm not going anywhere."

She looked down at their joined hands, her heart pounding as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. She wanted to pull away, to put distance between them, but something held her in place, an invisible force that kept her anchored to him.

"I know you don't trust me," he said softly, his thumb tracing small circles on the back of her hand. "And I don't blame you. But I need you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

She looked up, meeting his gaze, and for a moment, she saw something in his eyes that made her heart ache. There was a sadness there, a loneliness that mirrored her own, and she felt her resolve waver, her defenses crumbling in the face of his sincerity.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you trying so hard to make me trust you?"

He let out a sigh, his gaze drifting back to the fire. "Because I know what it's like to feel alone. To feel like you're fighting a battle you can't win. And I don't want you to feel that way."

He looked at her, his expression earnest, and she felt a warmth spread through her chest, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time. It was a dangerous feeling, one that made her feel vulnerable and exposed, but she couldn't bring herself to pull away.

"Maybe we're not as different as we think," he murmured, his hand still resting on hers. "Maybe we're both just trying to survive in a world that doesn't care about us."

She swallowed, her eyes stinging with unshed tears as his words hit home. She had always felt like an outsider, like someone who didn't belong, and hearing him voice those same feelings made her heart ache.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry for all the times I doubted you."

He gave her a small, sad smile, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in a gesture that was both comforting and intimate. "You don't have to apologize. I know I haven't given you much reason to trust me."

He leaned closer, his gaze intense, and she felt her breath catch as he reached up, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, and she found herself leaning into it, craving the warmth and comfort he offered.

"Yn," he murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I need you to know that I'm here for you. And I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."

She closed her eyes, her heart pounding as his words washed over her. She wanted to believe him, to trust that he meant what he said, but a part of her still held back, wary of the dangers that lay ahead.

But as she opened her eyes and looked at him, she saw something in his gaze that made her heart ache. There was a vulnerability there, a raw honesty that made her want to believe him, to trust that he was on her side.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Thank you for being here."

He gave her a small, sad smile, his hand still resting on her cheek. "You don't have to thank me, Yn. I'm here because I want to be."

She felt a tear slip down her cheek, and he reached up, brushing it away with a tenderness that made her heart ache. He leaned in, his breath warm against her skin, and she felt her resolve waver, her defenses crumbling in the face of his affection.

And then, slowly, he closed the distance between them, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was both gentle and intense. She felt herself respond, her own lips parting as she leaned into him, her hands reaching up to grip his shoulders.

The kiss deepened, and for a moment, she allowed herself to forget, to lose herself in the warmth of his embrace. She felt his hands slide down her back, pulling her closer, and she clung to him, craving the connection, the comfort he offered.

They broke apart, both of them breathing heavily, and she looked up at him, her heart pounding as she searched his gaze. He reached up, his fingers brushing her cheek, and she felt a warmth spread through her chest, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time.

"Yn," he murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper. "You don't have to be afraid. I'm here with you, and I'm not going anywhere."

She looked up at him, her heart aching as his words washed over her. She wanted to believe him, to trust that he meant what he said, but a part of her still held back, wary of the dangers that lay ahead.

But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something there that made her heart ache. There was a raw honesty in his gaze, a vulnerability that made her want to believe him, to trust that he was on her side.

She reached up, her fingers brushing his cheek, and he closed his eyes, leaning into her touch with a softness that made her heart ache. She felt her resolve waver, her defenses crumbling in the face of his affection, and she knew that she was in too deep, that she couldn't walk away from this now.

And so, she stayed there, her hand resting on his cheek, her heart pounding as she allowed herself to believe, just for a moment, that they could find a way to survive this together. She knew it was dangerous, that this connection could be her undoing, but in that moment, she didn't care.

She leaned in, pressing her lips to his once more, and he responded, his arms wrapping around her as he pulled her close, their hearts beating in sync as they clung to each other, two lost souls finding solace in the warmth of each other's embrace.