Little Miss Mudblood

Chapter 24: Dungeon

I wake up cold and damp, confused I raise myself up on my knees to look around. Darkness, stone, steel bars? Am I in a dungeon? I stand up, having to grab onto the wall as my head starts to throb. I fall back down on my knees, and try again. I finally manage to stand without tripping. I make my way to the bars, there's no one around, so I yell out.

I hear a clanging and see Bellatrix prance down the stairs. "Ah! Dearie! Finally up? Here's some food for you!" She cackles slinging a tray of grey, goopy food down on the floor and pushing it through the bars.

"Where is Draco?" I stand up tall staring into her beady, dark eyes.

"Wouldn't you like to know."

I grab the tray and fling it through the bars at her. She dodges it and skips away.

I sit on the floor, and stare. I can't even think of a plan right now, my head is in excruciating pain, and my stomach is in knots. I have so many questions and no one to get answers from. Time seems to stop in the dimly lit dungeon, or maybe because there is no window or clock. I find myself falling asleep again.

I wake up to a small knock. "Art, are you okay?" Came a familiar voice, Draco!

I get up quickly, which leads to me stumbling to the bars. "Are you alright?" Is the first thing out of my mouth. He looks wearily and even more worn down, deep, dark bags set under his eyes.

He looked at me, baffled, "How can you ask me that when you are the one in this forsaken dungeon and cursed? You are bloody insane!"

I guess he is right. I am the one behind bars. I start to laugh, maybe it's the lack of food and immense pain I was in, that's driving me crazy, but it's hilarious. He gives me a quizzical look, he obviously doesn't find it amusing.

I stop to grab his hands through the bars, and I place them on my face, they are unusually cold. I look up at him and trace my fingers along his jawline, over his brows, through his hair, and finally trace over his lips. His face is always so stern, but he relaxes as I do that. I wonder if I will ever get out of here to be able to hold him again.

"Artemis. I am so sorry," he starts to harden up and tense again, I'm sure it's because he's no use to letting things get to him. "I will get you out of here." His voice is determined.

All I want to do in this moment is to wrap my arms arounds around him. Sixteen is too young for anyone to bare. I remember my regrets with Cedric, and I do something crazy and impulsive.

"I love you, Draco Malfoy!"

It comes out in a rush, But I don't want to have that moment taken from me, and he needs to know in case I never get a chance to say it again. He looks shocked, he pulls away from me. I know it's only because of how he was raised, but I can't help to think what if he leaves and this is the last time he will see me alive. I don't want him to leave, but he starts to walk away, instead we hear the door open, and he backs himself out of sight into the shadows.