𝑰𝒏𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 | 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒇𝒐𝒚 | 𝟐

| SIXTY NINE |

Chapter 69: The good and the easy

~•~

The Slytherin common room was in the midst of an uproar when the sixth years returned from the feast that had been provided to mark the new year. Countless sixth years were in a frenzy, searching the castle top to bottom in pursuit of their missing house mate.

"She's not here." Serena cried frantically, pulling at the roots of her hair as she collapsed on the couch.

"It's all my fault." Draco murmured. The boy paced back and forth in front of the fire, loosening his tie from around his neck and undoing his top few buttons.

"Stop blaming yourself for a fucking second Draco. It's all you've done since we got on the train this morning!" Alexis scolded from her place by the bookshelf.

"She's right mate." Blaise sighed, "She would've survived the attack surely."

"She hasn't been seen since Christmas Day Blaise. Since my aunt attacked them." Draco snapped, "I swear to God I'll kill whoever ratted us out."

Not a single soul had seen Olivia all day. She hadn't been on the Hogwarts Express that morning and she wasn't at dinner waiting for them. They hoped they'd find her in the common room but it was obviously not the case.

"The Weasleys were on the train, even Potter was so surely she's bound to be somewhere." Theo said, coming down from the boys dormitories after his failed search there.

"Where are you Olivia?" Draco whispered under his breath.

The sound of footsteps coming from near the prefect dorms had them all looking up. It was relief to their eyes when they saw Olivia walking down the stairs to the Common Room, confusion and worry set on her face, "Guys what's wrong? Why are you all panicking?"

Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun on the top of her head while she had her hands stuffed in the pocket of her jumper. There was a small cut on the bottom of her lip from where it had bust and a large graze on her left cheek from her duel with both Bellatrix and Greyback.

Draco was the first to move, uncaring about his actions as he ran over to Olivia and pulled her into a tight hug. She was shocked at first, still confused with what was going on but embraced him back, her small arms wrapping around his neck. Draco pulled back and placed both his hands on either side of her face, searching her eyes before he kissed her briefly.

He pulled away and she blinked rapidly, slightly breathless from being caught off guard. She placed her own hands over his and looked into his worry-filled eyes, "Babe.." she whispered quietly, "What's wrong?"

Draco sighed while leaning his forehead on hers, "I panicked when you weren't on the train. Then you weren't at dinner and we couldn't find you here. I-I thought something had happed to you after–"

She held a finger up to his lips sensing his hesitation, "I'm fine. It's nothing that can't be healed, just a few cuts and bruises."

Draco pulled her into an embrace again, threading his hands through her hair, "They found out. Mine and Parkinson's deal has been called off. I was terrified when they found out, I-i thought they were going to kill you."

"It's okay. They found out on my end too. All it means is that we don't have to hide anymore." She whispered.

Eventually Draco released his hold on her and allowed her to speak with the others. He kept close by though, finding himself anxious whenever she wasn't near. He knew now above ever was a time where she was most vulnerable to attack, no where was safe for her anymore.