Silence is Deafening

Chapter 23

a/n: Rated 18+. Strong sexual content.

"I need you."

My head snapped up from the book I was reading. Those words were enough to make me forget anything I was supposed to be doing.

Draco was standing over me, his long sleeve black shirt clinging to his frame deliciously. I wasn't sure why he wasn't wearing short sleeves like everyone else, because it was now May and the weather was warming up.

"What is it?" I asked, marking the page in the book and closing it slowly. He looked uncomfortable.

"Can you follow me?" He asked, and I stood up quickly. He turned, walking toward the stairs leading up to the boys' dormitories. I hesitated for a moment. The last time I had been up in Draco's room was when everyone was in Hogsmeade. Now, there were people all over the common room, and it would be clear as day if I went upstairs with him. He turned and met my eyes.

"Oh, come on. No one cares." he said, rolling his eyes. I followed him up the winding staircase and into his room. He closed the door behind me, taking a deep breath.

"My...mum. She owled me this morning. She's...well she said she needs to speak with me. About something. And-er...I want you to meet her." he finished, uncomfortably. I looked at him, my eyes wide.

Meet Draco's mother? The thought alone made my stomach drop like I missed a step. My mouth instantly dried, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Everything was spinning.

"Y-your mother?" I asked, attempting to clear my throat. It dried up again instantly, and I coughed.

"Clarke, don't look so bloody scared. What do you think, she bites?" He asked, and I shrugged. He burst out laughing, the first genuine laugh I had heard from him.

"She's in Snape's office." he said, after he recovered from his laughing attack. My eyes got even wider, if it were possible.

"NOW? She's here now?" I screeched, grabbing Draco's arm.

"Ow! Fuck, Clarke, yes, she is. Relax, bloody hell!" he said, yanking his arm out of my hand. He straightened his sleeve and looked at me angrily. I couldn't even feel momentarily bad.

"I have to fix my hair, I have to put on makeup. Do I have a dress or something-

"Clarke. Stop. You look fine." Draco said.

"I don't want to look fine, Draco, I want to look good!" I wailed, turning to appraise myself in the mirror. My hair was scooped into a messy ponytail, and I was wearing my usual school uniform, minus the robe.

"Elizabeth. You look gorgeous. You always do. Can we go?" Draco said, pulling me to face him. I smiled softly at him and stood on my tip toes. I puckered my lips and Draco kissed me chastely. He grabbed my wrist in his hand and pulled me out of his room, both of us heading downstairs. We walked down the few corridors that lead to Snape's office and paused outside.

"Look, my mum can be...intense sometimes. She's not mean, just a bit...well...you'll see." Draco said, trying to sound lighthearted but failing miserably. A cold sensation grabbed hold of my chest and wouldn't let go. Draco rapped on Snape's door, and pushed it open.

A woman was sitting in the chair of Snape's office, across the desk from Snape himself. Draco had told me that she was Bellatrix and Andromeda's sister, so I prepared myself to see someone who looked like them. Draco's mother was the opposite. She was tall, slender and very fair. She looked very much like Draco, with long straight blonde hair that hung to her waist. She had a very sharp face, with high cheekbones and pointed lips. Her eyes were an icy blue color, and she looked like she was looking down her nose at everyone.