Make Me Fall

40. Malfoy Manor

I wake up in Draco's room on the Saturday after Easter, the day before we go back to school and sigh. I wish I could sleep in today and just relax, but instead I do what I've been doing the last week.

I drag myself out of bed, careful not to wake Draco, and go take a shower. It's still fairly early and even though I long to be in bed, I know I won't sleep. I've been so tense here, like I can't let my guard down for even a minute. I think it might be Bellatrix. Damn in laws.

The hot water does little to sooth me. I turn the shower off and dry myself, then dress in dark coloured robes. I have a funny feeling. I climb back into bed and wake Draco.

"What?" he grumbles.

"I have a weird feeling," I tell him, "it doesn't feel good."

Draco puts one arm over me and pats me on the back, then falls asleep again. I sigh. Fat load of good he is.

I realise I'm shivering and cuddle closer to Draco, pulling the covers around us. The shivering doesn't stop. I feel like I'm made of ice. I tuck my head under Draco's head and close my eyes, willing sleep to come and steal me away. Draco shifts, pulling me closer to him. It's warm and dark, and usually it would feel safe, but I just can't shake this feeling.

I listen to Draco's breathing, trying to match mine to his. As I do I feel sleep creeping up on me. My eyelids droop and my breathing lengthens of its own accord.

"WAKEY-WAKEY!"

I jolt awake, my heart thumping. Draco grumbles something and stretches out, rolling away from me. Bellatrix is leaning on the bed post, watching us with a sneer.

"Time to get up," she says, floating out. I sigh and run my hands over my face. I feel hot from being so close to Draco for so long. My hair is still damp at the roots, but the ends are dry and sticking out everywhere. I roll out of bed and comb them into a bun at the base of my neck. I hear the shower turn on in the next room. I flick my wand at the damp pillows and dry them, then make the bed. My head feels clearer, and although the nagging feeling is still there, I can push it to the back of my mind. I look in the mirror. My skin is pale, making my freckles leap out and there're dark circles under my eyes, but I don't look as bad as I did yesterday. And tomorrow I'll be back at Hogwarts. I'll sleep better there.

Draco comes out of the bathroom, rubbing a towel over his head. I sit cross-legged on the end of the bed and wait for him to get dressed. I stare down at my shoes, tracing the pattern along the side. I feel a hand under my chin and Draco tilts my head back so I'm looking at him. His eyes sweep my face. He's frowning slightly.

"I'm fine," I tell him softly. His frown grows deeper. He leans down and kisses me softly.

"Come on," he says, "you need to eat something."

I follow him downstairs. We always have meals together. Nobody speaks or looks at each other. It's very uncomfortable. The first dinner I couldn't eat anything at all. Since then Draco made a point to sit next to me and hold my hand under the table. I still don't want to eat anything, but I make myself for Draco.

After breakfast we all go into the living room. Mr Malfoy reads the Daily Prophet, Mrs Malfoy reads Witch Weekly, Bellatrix reads a dark magic books and Draco and I do homework. Well, we pretend to. We finished all our homework in the first couple of days, so we just play hangman or naughts and crosses.

Draco scrawls a t on his piece of paper and I add it to the lines.

_ _ au_ _t    o_    _i_i__    _eat_

There's a noise that makes me jump.

"Someone's at the gate," Mrs Malfoy mutters, laying her magazine aside. Bellatrix waltzs out and we hear the front door open and close. A few moments later it opens again.