Thicker than Blood (Draco Malfoy love story)

Chapter nineteen: Trust

Draco's POV

I run like the devil's on my ass. Literally. The irony is unmistakable, isn't it.

I run harder, trying to drown my thoughts in sweat. Every time it comes up, I push myself a little harder.

Finally, I can't run anymore, so I let my mind come out of shock.

What the hell! She's a vampire? How does that even happen? Wouldn't Dumbledore have noticed? They've put us all in danger! How could--

I damn near jump out of my skin when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I freeze, quickly running through my options. Running is obviously out of the question. My legs can barely hold me as it is.

Finally, I decide to just confront whoever it is. I turn around, half expecting a werewolf or a demon. It wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility.

Instead, I find a blank faced, yellow-eyed, non-fanged Phoenix.

"Come." She says simply, steering me by my shoulder. I don't fight it, still in shock. Tight grip for a girl, I think. Then I remember, she's not just a girl. My thoughts quiet again.

After a few minutes, we get to the Room of Requirement. She lets me go, with a deadly glare that made it clear what would happen if I ran. And since I prefer all of my blood inside my body, and not being digested by a fucking vampire, I sit quietly and stay out of the way.

She paces in front of the door three times, then looks at the wall. I feel my brows furrow in confusion. Why didn't a door show up? Why would she require a wall?

That's when I notice that the painting on the wall changed. I'm not sure what it was before, but right now it's a bowl of fruit. Almost like...

She tickles the pear, a slight smile visible for a second. Then the door opens, revealing the kitchen.

A few house elves smile at her and wave, then glare when they see me. One of them runs up to Phoenix, smiling and laughing. She smiles back and wraps the young elf in a hug.

"Hey, Izobeth. You're growing up!" Phoenix says, picking up the little girl, Izobeth. She giggles and swings her feet in the air, wrapping her tiny arms around Phoenix's neck.

"Uh huh! I'm almost three feet tall! Soon I'll be just as big as you, won't I?" She says excitedly, holding her hand at about five feet high.

Phoenix laughs and nods. "Maybe, but only if you eat all your vegetables and listen to your mom."

I watch as a few more children make their way over, greeting Phoenix like a mother. She fusses over each of them, making sure none of them feel left out.

I can't help smiling as I watch them. Phoenix would make a wonderful mother.

Suddenly, a vivid image consumed my thoughts. Phoenix older and smiling in my arms, ripe with child. Me holding a little girl, who looks just like my family and I.

I shake my head, bringing to mind what happened less than ten minutes ago. Red eyes, fangs, vampire. Would I really want to reproduce with a vampire?!

It's a shock when I realize that I can't immediately say no to that.

Phoenix sets Izobeth down and walks over to me. "Draco, just give me a chance to explain." She asks quietly, her beautiful eyes pleading.

Suddenly, I'm on the verge of getting pissed. "So what? You hug a few kids, play mommy for a bit, and I'm just supposed to forget that you're a vampire?" I ask heatedly.

She flinches and shakes her head, then shrugs a little. "I guess that was part of it. But I also wanted to show you that I could hold someone without wanting to kill them. I guess I hoped it would make you a little less afraid of being around me." She says sadly.

I decide to fake some courage. "Who says I'm scared of you?" I challenge.

She gives me a bitter smile. "Brave words, but you're body betrays you. I can hear your heart racing, smell the adrenaline in your blood, see your pupils shrinking in fear. Being a vampire comes with a few benefits." She says, emphasizing the word vampire to mock the fact that I can't even say it with a straight face.

I shrug. "Mind over matter. I don't give a fuck what my body thinks. I control it, not the other way around."

She raises her eyebrows, looking impressed. Then she steps closer. Just a little, maybe a couple inches at most.

"And what does your mind say?" She whispers.

I think for a minute. "To be cautious around you. That you've been lying to me this entire time." I say bitterly.

Her eyes widen, and her expression... She probably would have looked less hurt if I had smacked her. The pain in her eyes is unmistakable.

"I never lied to you. Ever." She says strongly, honesty showing in her eyes. Maybe she believes what she's saying, but not me.

"Lying by omission. It's still a lie." I say, backing up towards the door.

"Draco, stop! What was I supposed to say?! And I wasn't lying! I was just trying to find the right time to tell you. Maybe it's hard to take, and maybe it sucks to know that I'm a walking leech, but have you once thought of me? It hurts to keep anything from you, but I had to! I didn't how you were going to react! You barely knew me, and for all I knew, you could've turned me in to the Minister of Justice! But Draco, I love you..." She says desperately, as if she's begging me to understand.

I turn around and look at her. Truly look at her. A creature who lives off death and blood, supposedly a monster. But here she is, caring for house elves and their children, declaring her love for me. She's beautiful, even with her hair messed up and her clothes a little rumpled-looking.

I close the distance between us, unable to be mad at her anymore.

"Okay, we'll work through this. But just... Give me a little warning before you drop the next bombshell, okay?" I ask, wrapping her in a hug. I don't even flinch when she lays her head on my shoulder, her breath tickling my neck. The thought of her biting me never even crosses my mind.

I trust her.

Soulmates... Not so impossible now, is it?