Always. (A Draco Malfoy Story)

Protection.

I knock on the classroom door before entering, "Are you busy?"
Snape looks up at me and motions for me to come forward.

"You never talk to me personally in a classroom setting..." He continues to do work. He suddenly stops and perks his head up, "Great Salazar, what did you do?!" I put my hands up in surrender, "Nothing! Not yet anyway..." Snape takes a long look at me before returning to his work.
"So what do I owe the pleasure for today, Joy?"

"I need you to promise me to look after Draco."

Snape ceased all movement. He looks up at me before squinting his eyes, "I'm not too sure I understand... what you're asking of me." I groan dramatically, run to close the classroom door and run back.

"Draco still thinks I can't take care of myself, and that he's responsible for me." I begin to pace in front of his desk, "But I know Draco... and I know he's not himself lately. Like that thing with Lawrence? He'll threaten him and throw a punch or two, but he was about to kill him, Snape!" I lean against the nearest desk, "And now Hermione told me that Harry and Ron are suspicious of Draco..." Snape begins to look concerned. "...and I just have a really bad feeling about what's to come."

Snape stands up and walks to stand in front of me. He grips my shoulders and says, "My main concern is you. You are the closest thing... I have to a child, Joy. I could do without the headaches... but I did promise your Father that I will look after you when he is unable to." I looked down at the ground in defeat.
"But...." Snape releases my shoulders and continues on, "...because he means so much to you, I will look after him the same." I snap my head up and see that Snape's trying to... smile?

I jump and give him a hug, "Thank you, Uncle Snape." He tensed up at my sudden affection and was unsure what to do, so he just patted my head.

I realized I'm hugging someone that actually hates people so I quickly let go of him and chuckled, "Whoops?" He nods at my attempt to apologize and gave me a dismissive wave.

-

In my attempt to go back to the dungeons to get a quick nap in, I'm again interrupted by the sound of my name. "Joy!"

Just one day, ONE DAY, without unwanted people talking to me.

Harry walks up to me. "How are you?" I sigh, "I'd be better if I could just get a chance to sleep." Harry got quiet. I rolled my eyes before asking, "How's your nose? I was bloody pissed at Draco for doing that to you." He chuckles, "It's alright. Luna fixed it for me." I nod and gave a half smile.

Harry begins to ramble on, "I wanted to talk to you about—" "Draco?" He nods.
I sigh and tell him the same thing I told Hermione, "Harry, Draco's just going through a lot right now. I know your intentions are pure in trying to keep me safe, but I'm not in any danger, ok?" He looks at the ground, while I go on, "You and Hermione are honestly the only two people out of Slytherin that I can kind of tolerate, although I can't say the same for Draco. You have bigger things to deal with rather than Draco."

Harry nods. "I know, but-" I cut him off, "Just trust me, ok?"

He sighs and nods. I brush past him, resuming my journey to the dungeons when he blurts out, "You're not so bad, Joy." I continue to walk away, "Don't ruin my rep!"

-

I'm finally back to Slytherin House when I decide to take a nap with Draco instead of sleeping in my own bed.

I make my way to his room where he's peacefully sleeping. He's so cute when he's not annoying me.

I help myself to change into some of his clothes before crawling into bed with him. I saw him peek his eyes open as I pulled the covers over myself and he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close to his body. He gently kissed my shoulder before groggily saying, "This is a surprise." I placed my arm on top of his and gave his hand a soft squeeze.
It wasn't long before we both fell asleep.