You and me

Part 16 - The Room of Requirement

Draco was allowed to leave in a few days, and again, I saw that he was no where to be found. I looked everywhere possible, and Pansy kept check of the Slytherin common room. I had to talk to him. I had so many things to ask !
And then, I had an idea.
I jumped up from my bed, hoping to find Harry in the common room. Luckily, he was dozing on one of the couches. I went up to him and woke him. He woke up, alarmed.
He sat up, adjusted his glasses, and looked at me.
"Harry, I need a favour" I said.
"Sure ! Tell me" he said, and I knew that he wanted to make it up to me.
"I need to borrow the Marauder's map" I said.
Harry looked at me, his eyes scanning my face, cautiously.
"Harry ?" I said.
"Yes, of course" he said, "I'll get it"
He went upto to his dormitory, and came out with the map in hand.
"Thanks Harry " I said with a smile. "How does it work ?"
He taught me how to use it.
"I promise its not for anything evil. And I wont ruin it or lose it"
Harry just smiled as I said this.

Once out of the common room, I opened the map, and checked for Draco. It took me a while to spot him. While I was trying to understand where he stood, he disappeared.
"What ?! I just saw you now !" I muttered to myself.
He wasnt anywhere in the map anymore. Was this stupid map broken or something, I thought.
And then it hit me !
The Room of Requirement !
I remembered Hermione telling us once that it cannot be seen in the map!
Stuffing the map into my bag, I ran.

                                  * * *

The Room of Requirement was huge, and so full of clutter. I walked around slowly, trying to find Draco. I was sure that he was in here. I felt a bit spooked in there, really.
Finally I spotted him. He was standing in front of a cabinet of some sort, with intricate works on its body, and a strange shape. He had his back to me, that he didnt notice me approaching.
I could hear him muttering things under his breath as I came closer.
"Draco" I said in a whisper.
He turned in shock, his face as white as chalk.
"What are you doing here ?!" he asked, looking angry.
"Im here to see you !" I said.
"How did you find me ?"
"I followed you" I lied.
He came forwards and put his hands on my shoulders.
"You cannot be here" He whispered.    "Go back"
"Im not going anywhere !" I said, folding my arms. "I need answers"
"Mia" He said. "Its better off this way"
"Dont try to lock me out, Draco !" I said, my voice raising. " I want to know !"
"What do you want to know, Mia ?"
"I want to know if you tried to poison Professor Dumbledore and cursed Katie Bell"
I didnt dare to look at his face. I couldnt see the pain he was in.
"Yes" came a barely audible reply.
"He made you do it ?"I asked.
He nodded.
"If I dont do as he says, he going to kill my parents and -"
He paused to look at me.
"And you"
Fear gripped at my heart.
"Dont do it, Draco " I whispered. "Please...there must be another way"
"There is no other way !" he said, frustration gripping his voice. " I've been over this for almost an year now, and there is no other way !"
"He is a good man, Draco" I said. "You know it. "
"Nothing is more important that keeping my family safe. " said Draco roughly. "I will do anything for that !"

I moved away from him.
"What is this?"I asked him, looking at the cabinet.
"Its the Vanishing Cabinet"he said. "I have to mend it"
Just before I could say anything, he said "Please dont ask me why...you will know everything when the time comes."
I didnt push him.
I was scared. I was so scared.
I dropped my bag and sat on the floor, sobbing. I couldnt think of anything better to do.
"Dont hate me,Mia" He said , his voice shaking. " I never wanted this. Any of this"
He sat beside me.
"I love you far too much, Draco Malfoy" I said. "Nothing can change that". 
He smiled a bit, and then leaned forward to kiss me. I put my arms around his neck, pulling him as close to me as possible, and I felt his arms around my waist. He kissed me so deeply, I felt giddy.
"I missed you so much" he said against my lips.
He lay me on the floor, and came on top of me, kissing again.His legs entangled with mine, and it made me shiver. His lips trailed down to my neck and collarbone, while his hands lifted my shirt slowly.
His lips sucked at the soft skin of my neck, making me whimper. His cool fingers moved around my stomach, and I felt my breath fasten.
He sat up for a moment, taking his shirt off, and then, hovered over me, his hands on either sides of me. My eyes fell on the darkmark, and I stared at it, for a minute.
" Are you afraid of me, Mia?" he asked, his voice just a whisper.
I looked at him, my brown eyes locked with his grey ones.
"No" I said. "Should I be ?"
He replied with a kiss. This one was rough, and my lips throbbed when he sat up again, and looked into my eyes, asking for permission. I nodded slowly, and he pulled my shirt off over my head gently. I was so self-conscious now, my hands tried to cover myself.
"Dont do that" said Draco, taking hold of my wrists, and pinning them down to the ground. "You dont know how beautiful you are"
His lips travelled all over my body, sending shivers down my spine, and set volcanos erupting in my tummy.
He pressed his forhead to mine, as we tried to catch our breaths, and kissed the tip of my nose, before his hand moved to my skirt.
It was all so new to me, I was scared and happy all at the same time.
I held on to him tightly, and the little things he did got me trembling and making noises , that made him do more.
He was afraid of hurting me, and each and every touch was as gentle as possible.

And for the very first time, Draco made love to me. And I was glad to give myself to him. It felt so special.
Yet, I was in tears as soon as it ended.
I was sobbing and trying to catch my breath all together.
He looked frightened.
Propping himself up on his elbow, he looked at me as I wept.
"Did I hurt you !"he asked.
I shook my head, no.
"Are you sure ?"
I nodded.
"What is it ?" he asked again, his voice desperate.
"I love you, Draco" I whispered.
"I love you too, Mia" he said, smiling and kissing me on my forehead.
He got up, and collected our clothes, as I lay there, with my eyes closed.
I felt overwhelmed in a way. And extremely scared, as well. He handed me my clothes, and I dressed up quickly. I sat watching him button up his shirt, and pulling on his sweater over his head.

"Mia" he said, running his fingers through my hair.
"I need a promise" he said.
I looked at him with fear in my mind.
"Promise me you wont come back to Hogwarts next year" he said.
"Draco ! But-"
"Promise me, Mia"
His eyes were serious, his voice stern.
"Say it !" he said.
"I promise, Draco" I said half- heartedly.
"It may not be enough, but its a start"
he said, pulling me into a hug. "Please dont hate me, Mia. Please dont!"
"Draco-" I began, but kept speaking.
"You are the only choice I dont regret... And, you might not want to see me again when you know things...but, please..."
He was crying bitterly.
He pushed me away, and said, "Go on. Dont look back. "
I ran off crying .
And I had a feeling that I wont be seeing Draco for a long time now.