Entranced (Draco Malfoy)

•twenty-five•

Dove Taylor holds tightly onto her father's arm, him and Draco Malfoy helping her to stand. Her legs wobble, and she falls straight into her boyfriend's arms. He easily catches her, having expected that, and helps her back onto her feet.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" David Taylor frets.

"Yes," Dove says through clenched teeth. "I cannot stay in that bed for one more minute." 

"That's my niece," Amos says, voice shaking. 

The moment he had learned that his favorite (and only) niece had awaken, he'd ran straight from his temporary sleeping chambers in the castle all the way to the Hospital Wing, which was quite a feat for someone of his age and stature.

He'd hugged her, not letting her go until Lorraine Taylor threatened to hex him. Of course, everyone understood. He'd lost his son at this school and almost died from a broken heart. He couldn't lose his niece here too. 

"Don't worry, Uncle Amos, I'm okay," the sixteen-year-old reassures him. "It'll take a lot more than a practically-illegal curse to kill me."

"That's the spirit," Lorraine encourages dryly. "Dovelyn, what is your plan?" 

She cringes at the name, "Right now? Go to the Great Hall and eat."

"No," everyone choruses at once.

"Percy Weasley and the Minister for Magic are in the Great Hall right now questioning students," David rushes to explain. "We still don't know who almost killed you."

"Are we sure it was a student?" Dove frowns, releasing her father to hug onto Draco instead, legs still shaky. "The figure looked too big to be a simple student."

That's her and Draco's newest cover story. The two know that she can't get pulled out of Hogwarts. Dumbledore would die if they made that mistake. So, in order to make sure she can stay at the school, they've decided to make it seem as if a Death Eater had done it.

Lorraine hesitates, knowing that's a new theory the Ministry officials are throwing around, "We don't know. Who would want to hurt you?"

"I don't know," Dove echoes. Exhaustion creeps through her, her legs weakening, "Draco," she just manages to gasp.

He quickly bends down, picking her up. He sits down on her bed, pulling her into his lap. Lorraine and David exchange a worried look.

It's been over a week since the incident and five days since she first woke up. Madam Pomfrey continues to make strength potions for her, but they don't seem to be working as well as they should. Dove should be getting stronger by now. 

"I know," Draco murmurs. "I'll go get you something to eat."

"No, I will," Amos decides, jumping to his feet. "I'll get your favorite."

The sixth-year Hufflepuff can only nod. What can she do? She hasn't spent a single moment alone since she woke up. She hasn't gotten a chance to truly think about what happened. All she knows for fact is the person who sent the letter sent it as a warning, and she should have taken it as such.

The task holder worked quickly. Whoever it is definitely knew when to strike and knew that she would be at her most vulnerable. She knows Draco isn't okay. He holds her as she sleeps every night, and she can feel him shaking.

They haven't had any time to truly talk about things, which isn't good. They need to talk about what happened and what to do now. 

"Dove, what is your plan?" Lorraine repeats, sounding tired.

"Mum, I want to stay here," Dove dares to admit. "I think it could have been a Death Eater. No one here would want to hurt me. Besides, Professor Dumbledore is increasing security now. If I were to leave, what would I do?"

"Go to Beauxbatons," her father urges. "You have Veela blood."

"One-sixteenth of it," she mumbles. "I want to stay here."

Draco knows he shouldn't get involved in this. Besides, he has a feeling it will end the way they want it. 

"Fine," Lorraine sighs. "But if anything happens, literally anything, both of you are coming home. Do you understand?" 

"Yes," the couple choruses.

"Don't worry, Draco will protect me."

He immediately nods, voice hardening as he speaks, "No one will have any chance at hurting her again." 

-

Another three days pass. Dove is released from the Hospital Wing, her parents and uncle leave the castle, and the Ministry officials declare that a Death Eater had, in fact, broken into the castle and attacked her. Security has increased to crazy levels, but it doesn't irritate most of the students.

Draco doesn't leave her side. He now has permission to even eat dinner with her, and he glares at anyone who dares to even breathe oddly in her direction. In some ways, they've both reverted back to their old selves.

Dove is timid again, afraid of everyone and everything. Draco has become mean again, but he's done it to protect the only person at Hogwarts he cares about. They've gotten even closer, and often they sit together simply staring at the ring on her left hand. 

-

Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, and Megan Jones walk up to Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger during a free block two weeks later, all three of the Hufflepuff's looking stressed.

"Hello," Harry greets awkwardly. "Are you looking for Dove?"

"No, she's with Malfoy," Megan says easily, scoffing slightly. "Where else would she be?"

"You're back to calling him Malfoy?" Hermione asks in surprise.

"He's been a right git to everyone," she says crassly, folding her arms and sniffing. "It's like he thinks someone's going to murder Dove right in front of him." Susan winces, Hannah looking at the ground. "Sorry. Bad word choice."

"Okay," Ron drawls, "Is there a reason you want to talk to us?"

"Yes," Megan continues. "Something isn't right about this. Dove came into this year and immediately started distancing herself from us. All of her letters over the summer were fine. She was normal. And since the attack... It's like she was expecting it."

"She was expecting to almost die on the third day?" Hermione asks for clarification.

"We know Dove," Hannah utters, the Prefect looking near tears. "We know her. She knew something like that was going to happen. We just don't know how."

"And so you're asking us for help." It's not a question but a statement. "Okay," Harry sighs. "We'll help."