Enchanted Royalty

Chapter 27

Draco-

I felt sick. I felt like my breakfast was going to come up, my nails dug into my skin, and I tried to breathe through my nose. Tried to steady myself. What he told me-what I heard-it made a wave of nausea crash over me. 

"Draco," My brother said, as we went up the elevator at the Ministry of Magic. "Are you alright? You've gone pale."

"I'm always pale."

"You know what I mean." He muttered, "Everything he said...do you believe him?"

I didn't answer right away. The elevator gave a low groan as it rose, the golden grille rattling slightly with each floor we passed. I stared at the designs on the doors, willing myself not to look at my brother.

"I don't know." I muttered eventually, my voice low it was nearly swallowed by the clanking machinery. "I don't even know what to believe anymore." 

He shifted beside me, his cape brushing my leg. "He could be lying." He said, "You know that right? People like him...they twist things. They make you doubt. He probably just wanted to play the sympathy card."

"I know."

The words rang hollow, even to me. Because the way he said it-the certainty in his voice, the glint in his eyes-it didn't feel like a lie. It felt like the truth, but I don't know if I was ready to admit that.

The elevator shuddered to a stop, and the doors opened. I stepped out first, my legs stiff and unsteady. They were never stiff or unsteady before, I was taught not to let them be like this, but I couldn't focus on my training right now.

Michael walked behind me, "I know he did it. I know he sent that man to kill Madeline." 

"I agree with you, but we really can't do anything unless he confesses. There's no proof tying him to Erik Gale." 

I didn't even manage a smile at the wizards or witches who passed us. A head nod would do for now, and if they don't like it they can go screw themselves. We walked through the atrium, the great marble floor gleaming under our boots, the giant golden fountain casting flickering reflections across the wall. The Ministry bustled around us-paper airplanes zipped over, memos flying towards their destinations, wizards in deep conversations or barking orders at each other.

It all felt wrong. Too normal. Too loud. How can they all act so normal when someone's tried to kill Madeline not once but twice now.

"We'll get him," Michael said quietly, stepping closer. "One way or another." 

I wanted to believe him, so badly it hurt, but hope was dangerous. I learned that a long time ago. 

We reached the lifts that would take us deeper into the Department of Magical Law Enforcment. I pressed the buttons without thinking, my fingers numb. 

"You should go back to the palace, get some rest before you have to start watching Madeline again." Michael said, his voice low.

I shook my head, rubbing a hand down my face. "No, I'll be fine...have you found anything about the muggle assassin?" 

Michael huffed out a breath. "The muggle law enforcement is handling the case; they're making it top priority. We're conducting a search of our own, but so far nothing."

"How can everyone working on this case find nothing?" I almost shouted, Michael's eyes scanned my face but said nothing.

The second set of doors opened, and we stepped inside. This time, the lift didn't groan-it screamed, the sound slicing through my already fraying nerves. I tightened my fists until my nails bit into my palms again.

Steady. Breathe. Don't break now. Not now.

The doors opened again, I could see Theo and Blaise were in front of my office. Blaise leaned against the wall; Theo paced the hall. One look at my face, and they knew exactly how the interrogation went.

Theo stopped pacing, his hands dropping stiffly to his sides. Blaise pushed himself off the wall, his usual smirk nowhere in sight. For a moment, none of us said anything. The silence between us felt heavy, stretched taut like a wire about to snap.

"Bad, then." Theo said quietly. I nodded once, that was all I could manage.

Blaise's jaw tightened. "Did he admit?" 

"No," I rasped, my throat dry. "But he didn't have to." 

The way he looked at me, the way he smiled, the way he spoke about Madeline, about Erik, about his past-it was all there, buried under his careful words and crocodile tears. He might have thought he was clever, but I've seen it before. Felt it.

"He's guilty." I said, voice rough. "Even, if we can't pin it on him yet." 

Theo swore under his breath and ran a hand through his hair, pacing again. Blaise stared at me for a long moment, "What's the plan, then?"

I glanced towards my office door, feeling the weight of it all settle on my shoulders. "We find proof," 

I took my wand out of my pocket. "Whatever it takes."

"Uncle Draco!" I heard Will's tiny feet running towards me, his tiny arms wrap around my legs. 

I cleared my throat forcing the impact of today out of my mind. "Will!" I waited for him to let go of my legs before I turned, scooping him up in my arms. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted the company." Madeline stepped out of the elevator right as the doors closed.

For a moment, the world narrowed too just her.

Madeline.

Her hair always done neatly, a soft smile playing on her lips, her eyes lighting up when she saw me.

Everything else-the ministry halls, Theo pacing, Blaise's worried stare, the knot in my gut-faded away.

I held Will a little tighter and forced myself to breathe. Merlin, I missed her. Missed the way she looked at me like I was something more than the mess I felt like. Missed her voice, her presences, her everything.

She stepped closer, and the ache in my chest sharpened.

"I wanted company," She said again, softer this time, like maybe she could sense how badly I needed her without me having to say a word.

Will wiggled in my arms, giggling, and I finally tore my eyes away from her long enough to set him down carefully on the floor. He immediately ran over to Theo, tugging at his cape.

I stayed rooted to spot, as Madeline walked over to me, I tried not to stare at her like an idiot.

"You, okay?" She asked, her voice laced with gentle tone. She already knew the answer. 

"I'm fine," I muttered, clearing my throat, trying to sound casual-and failing miserably. "Better now."

She smiled and it went straight to my heart.