Creature of Kinds [1/3] - A Draco Malfoy Love (Harry Potter)

13

"Draco..." Jinx breathed the single word, unable to go on. Draco looked up, his eye meeting hers like a key in a lock.

Jinx wanted so badly to run up to him, to tackle him into a hug and tell him how much she missed him. She wanted him to hug her back and promise never to leave again. But she was afraid that she'd scare him off again. With these conflicting feelings, Jinx felt her legs wobble, and she dropped to her knees, tears beginning to trickle silently down her cheeks.

Upon seeing this, Draco knew what she must've been feeling and immediately made his way over to her. He knelt in front of her and lifted her face with his slender fingers. The broken look in Jinx's deep blue eyes made his stomach turn as he thought, that's my fault.

"Don't cry," Draco spoke in a voice so soft it was almost a whisper.

At the gentleness of his voice, Jinx was able to calm down some. And before she could say anything, Draco stood and lifted her up into his arms bridal style. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around him. With an anxious sigh, Jinx closed her eyes and let Draco carry her away.

Within the minute Jinx felt herself being laid down on something soft. Eyes now open, she looked around to find herself in her dorm, on her bed. All of her dorm mates had gone home for the holidays, along with a large majority of Hogwarts. But confusion struck her as she realized something, "Draco, how did you know which bed was mine?"

Even in the darkness of the room, Draco's bright blush was barely visible. He began to speak, "a few days after I left, I came back..."

• Flashback •

He couldn't stop thinking about her; the soft waves of black hair that tumbled over her shoulders, the dark blue ocean that swam in her eyes. The way she was kind enough to even make him want to be better. The warmth of her heart when she shared it with him.

The broken look on her face when he left her.

Draco cringed at the image as it inflicted pain in his heart. Night had already fallen, but he decided that he couldn't wait, he needed to see her. Malfoy Manor was a ways from Hogwarts, but that didn't matter. So he hopped onto his broomstick and flew away, back toward the school.

It was well past midnight by the time he arrived. He flew dowm to the dungeon level and found the few windows that lead to the Slytherin girls' dorm. Silently, he landed on a wide, stone windowsill and entered the cracked window. Right next to the open window, Jinx was fast asleep in her bed. Draco's heart lurched.

He stared at her beautiful face for a while. Surely this wasn't the face of something fearful? Surely Jinx wasn't a monster, praying on helpless witches and wizards? He sat on the windowsill, still watching her. He hadn't the slightest idea how much power she truly had, only having skimmed the diary when he had it. But now that he'd cooled down, not a cell in his body feared her.

Hours passed, but Draco wouldn't leave; he couldn't, not yet. And every time her face turned sour, signifying an intruding nightmare, Draco softly waved his wand and whispered the spell, "sana somno, sana somno.." until she finally looked at peace again.

But when the horizon began to glow with the faintest orange color, Draco knew he had to go. He wanted nothing more than to stay with Jinx, to let her wake up to his face and finally tell her how sorry he was for over-reacting. But he couldn't, for there was unfinished business back at Malfoy Manor.

• End of Flashback •

Jinx and Draco were sitting side by side on the edge of her bed, and he'd just finished telling her his story. Unsure how to express her relief and joy, Jinx remained silent for a moment.

"It wasn't just that night," Draco went on, "I came back a lot, to check on you, make sure you're alright."

Jinx smiled, her heart light and fluttery, and took his hand in her own, "thank you."

Draco smiled somewhat guiltily down at the beautiful girl. "I'm not sure how to apologize for running away..." he began awkwardly.

"Don't worry about it, I understand what you must've felt," Jinx assured him, "you shouldn't have had to find out that way."

"And you shouldn't have had to deal with my reaction," Draco retorted with a smirk.

Jinx let out a small laugh and joked back, "well, it was just a bit uncalled for."

Draco laughed and gave Jinx's hand a squeeze. After a short silence, he spoke up, "so...a Creature of Kinds?"

Jinx grinned with a nervous laugh, "right, that's me. I'm sure you have a lot of questions."

"Actually," Draco countered and shook his head, "the diary cover most of it." There was a pause before he continued, "but what I do want to know is, what happened to you before you came back here? I've been meaning to ask for a while, how you got hurt."

Jinx felt her heart almost stop. She remembered vividly the day she arrives at Hogwarts earlier in the year. "..I'd run into a few of Voldemort's minions.."

Now, Draco's heart leapt. "And they just...did that to you?"

"No, they had a reason. Granted, I wouldn't call it a good reason, but it was a reason," Jinx explained, her heart pounding; would she have to tell Draco her other secret now too?

Sensing that something was wrong, Draco quickly added, "you don't have to tell me any more than that."

"Draco," Jinx's eyes shone gratefully, "I just want you to know, I do trust you. But if I tell you too much more, I'll be putting you in danger."

Draco smiled and put a comforting arm around her shoulders, "don't worry about it; I understand."

Finally, things were beginning to fall back into place. Jinx nuzzled her head against Draco's shoulder and sighed. Glancing down at her with a smirk, Draco teased, "comfortable?"

Jinx smiled lovingly up at him and kissed him gently, "very."

There was a long silence as the two sat together, sharing each other's warmth, until Draco asked hesitantly, "Jinx, I'm not entirely sure how it works, but...do you think that I'll be the one to break your immortality curse?"

Butterflies filled her chest and a subconscious smile appeared on her lips. It had to be him, she'd never felt this way before, and with all of her heart she answered, "I do."