~The Slytherin Princess~ Draco Malfoy

T W E N T Y S I X

Adeline didn't return home that Christmas holiday, in fact she spent most of it cooped inside one of the Malfoy's beautifully large guest rooms, most having never been slept in before.

Christmas Day passed by in a flash, Adeline only showing her face in order to receive and exchange gifts.
New Year's Eve ticked by, Adeline frowning up at the sky, gazing out of her window glazed eyes. As the clock struck midnight she prayed, she prayed for safety, for herself, her family, Draco, his family. She prayed the new year would be kind to her.

Draco had tried to be there for the girl, but honestly she didn't want to see him, sure she appreciated his long, comforting hugs but all she wanted was to be alone, to let her mind be free, to over think any possible situation to death.

Adeline knew sooner or later she herself would become completely entangled with the dark world, unable to escape and she was dreading it, dreading the day she would wear their mark, dreading the day she became a death eater. She was anticipating the day her father failed a challenge set to him by the Dark Lord himself and it would be instead passed on to her.

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"Adeline, are you okay?" Theo asked the girl in concern as the pair sat alone in the Slytherin carriage, the rest of their friends embarking on a journey to find the trolley selling sweets.

"Yeah." Adeline smiled tiredly, a smile that didn't quite reach the teens eyes and Theo caught on immediately.

"No you're not." He stared sympathetically at the pale girl, eye bags prominently outlining her usually strikingly blue gaze, "you're exhausted, what's wrong?"

"It's my dad." Adeline confessed with a sigh, looking towards her lap, "he's doing close work for the Dark Lord at the moment and I'm just worried something terrible will happen to him."

"Oh, Adeline." Theo frowned at the other teen, sitting beside her and resting her head on his shoulder, "were all here for you, most of our fathers are going through the exact same thing. He'll be fine."

Adeline closed her eyes, breathing in Theo's comforting earthy scent, feeling her consciousness slip away. And there, for the first time in two weeks, Adeline slept like a baby.

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Draco felt a deep rage settle uncomfortably inside of him as he walked into the Slytherin compartment, finding Adeline and Theo alone, her head on his shoulder as she slept.

"What are you doing with her?" Draco spoke lowly, ready to defend what belonged to him, "she's mine."

Theo rolled his eyes, "She told me about her father." Draco's face remained hard, eyes solely focused on his girlfriend leaning on another boy, "she hasn't been sleeping, she's been really worried, so I offered her support."

"I think you forget she's my girlfriend Nott." Draco stepped into the compartment, followed closely by Crabbe, Goyle, Blaise, Daphne and Pansy, all eagerly watching for Draco's reaction.

"It's pretty hard to forget." Theo looked down at the glimmering necklace, shimmering in the light, "look mate, I'm only trying to help her."

"Move, Nott." Draco snapped angrily, walking towards the stubborn boy, carefully removing Adeline's head from Notts shoulder to his own, softy running a hand through his girlfriends hair.

"He was only trying to help mate." Blaise backed Theo up, causing Draco to glare heavily at the male.

"Shut up Zabini." He glowered at the boy, "don't call me 'mate' we are not friends, not after what you did with my girlfriend."

Blaise looked down uncomfortably at his lap, then at Draco, attempting to defend himself,
"Come on Malfoy, that was an accident and we all know it, Adeline is over it."

"Yeah, but I'm not." Draco silenced the group, sighing as Adeline's cat jumped onto his other shoulder and curling up around his neck, resting it's small head on top of Adeline's.

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"Hey, come on love, wake up." The brunette rubbed her eyes as a soothing voice lulled her from her slumber.

"Draco." Adeline groaned, sitting up, rolling her neck, "what-?"

"We're back at Hogwarts." The Slytherin frowned, offering his hand, "we need to go."

The small girl yawned, nodding her head, yelping in shock as Draco picked up her body with ease, carrying her bridal style.

"Go back to sleep, angel." Draco muttered, his heart swelling as Adeline nuzzled her head into his chest, breathing in his scent deeply, "Merlin knows you deserve it."

"Thank you, Draco." Adeline smiled sleepily up at Draco's grey eyes.

"No, thank you babe." Draco smiled, pressing a chaste kiss against her head, not caring about the stares and whispers of his peers as he carried his girlfriend to the carriages then to the castle.

"You're really whipped." Pansy sniggered as Draco passed by the common room, his group of friends crowded around the entrance sniggering about something or other, Adeline passed out comfortably in his strong arms.

"He's in love." Daphne announced dramatically, spreading her arms causing the group to burst into laughter, "I never thought I'd see the day!"

"Shut up." Draco rolled his eyes, brushing off the groups obnoxious laughter and walking down the hallway stopping only moments later at the Slytherin Prefects common room.

"Mudblood." He whispered aggressively to the portrait, which swung open immediately.

Draco bit his lip, looking towards the door to Adeline's room, then towards his own. Sighing, the male decided to go against his heart and follow his brain. Entering Adeline's room he paused, Admiring the simple elegance of it.

Green drapes hung from the four poster bed, the emerald glazed windows casting an eerie shadow over the room. Mahogany furniture sat proudly on display, highlighting a grand but small fireplace, roaring away comfortingly.

"Sleep well, love." The Malfoy gently placed his girlfriend down onto the bed, tucking her body into the covers, placing a kiss to her forehead.

Draco left the girl's room with a smile on his face, ready to sleep soundly, hoping his lovers dreams weren't plagued with nightmares.