Rebellious Little Malfoy (complete)

6

Later that night
Arabella's p.o.v

I woke up in the hospital wing, I groaned at the pain that I was feeling, I tried to sit up, but Remus who was sitting next to me glared at me teasingly. I chuckled, although that hurt more than I would have liked, I noticed that the other boys werent here.

I raised my eyebrow at Remus and he answered as if knowing my silent question, "They're at the feast, Dumbledore asked me to stay, I'm a prefect." He explained and I nodded understandingly.

I looked down and noticed I was no longer wearing my jacket, I gasped, and Remus noticed. "Madame Pomfrey took it off to examine your wounds, turns out you had quite a few." He stated looking down sadly.

"Do the others know?" I asked and Remus shook his head, "Please don't tell him." And he sighed but nodded, "Thank you Remus." I whispered and he blushed but said nothing.

"Why do you stay?" He asked suddenly, I looked at him in shock, that was random.

"I have no choice." He sighed once again, but we sat in silence for a while.
I heard footsteps and looked over at the door, and in walked... Dumbledore?

"Hello Professor," I smiled kindly, and he nodded at me, his eyes twinkling with mystery.

"May I have a word?" he asked looking at Remus, and I nodded, and Remus said goodbye before going to find his friends. Once Dumbledore was sure we were alone, he turned to me, "May I?" he asked pointing to the seat and I nodded with a smile, Dumbledore always made me smile. "I am aware of your situation Miss Malfoy." He said seriously, and I sighed, not being able to hide my emotion around such a wise man. "I have a preposition," He began and I didn't interrupt, "I want to discuss your new home with your father, seeing as I am well aware that the cruciatus curse is against the law, I doubt he would be able to refuse a new home for you." I looked at Dumbledore in shock and confusion, to which he simply chuckled, I didn't understand, and he knew it. "Let me rephrase, I feel the need, as your Professor and as your friend, to take you out of your uncomfortable living situation, I am offering you a home, with me." He said and I gasped, I felt tears well up in my eyes, and Dumbledore looked at me curiously, before I jumped out of the bed, ignoring the blinding pain, and hugged the older man. He laughed whole-heartedly.

"You truly mean it? I mean, you don't have too! I am a burden that no one should have to suffer with!" I said meaning every word, my self-hatred becoming clear and open.

"You are no burden Arrabella, and I would love your company, I must talk to your father immediately, you are safe now." When he said those words I began to sob, more than I have in a while, but the tears were confused, I was happy and so sad. The old man smiled at me, and I felt a warm feeling spread through me, as I repeated my thanks he simply laughed before saying, "Rest dear child, you are hurt."

But I laughed, a sad and pathetic but honest laugh. "Pain is nothing to me, but your kindness, well that is truly life changing." And with those wise words, he looked at me completely differently, but it was a good different.

He left soon after, with words of promise, I had two years left at Hogwarts, and Dumbledore had given me a promise, a promise that I would be safe for them, but I knew that for the next year Lucius would still be watching me, tormenting me. But for some reason, ever since I defended the Marauders on the train, I felt braver.