Royals (Draco Malfoy x Reader)

Chapter 79

The sunlight shined through the cracks in the windows illuminating (Name)'s face, Draco laid idly beside her perched up in his elbow as he studied her, soaking up every inch of her. Her lips were chapped but seemed so soft, Her eyes squeezed shut in a zone of euphoria, for once, she wasn't having a nightmare. She hadn't taken out her earrings, the crystals glimmered in the light. She stirred slightly and Draco's hand shot to her face his thumb grazing her cheek and she began to settle again. It was fairly early 7:00 am to be exact.

Her skin was soft to the touch as if he was running his fingers through silk, she let out quiet snores and for a Mere moment Draco felt at peace, he felt that it would be okay, eventually. The door slammed open and (name) stirred again, more agitated this time. "shush!" he held a finger to his lips and his mother sent him a small smile. "Is she okay?" Narcissa's voice was quiet as she watched her son stare at the girl. Draco nodded moving his eyes to his mother, she was kind deep down the years of being a trophy wife had clearly been getting to her. Her eyes were glazed over, her skin pale and her smile sad. "I'm sorry baby" Narcissa moved closer and Draco slipped as quietly as possible from the bed, wrapping his arms around his mother as he felt her tears soaking his top "I am so sorry" she repeated squeezing him tighter and at that moment, it went perfect anymore. He knew that his life would never be simple, that he most likely wouldn't grow old with (Name) by his side, his mother and father encouraging him. He would never have that. 

"Merry Christmas" with that Narcissa left her sons grip scurrying out the door. The blonde turned to look at (Name) again, in all honestly, she looked quite angelic, wrapped tightly in the white sheets, a sense of happiness overthrew Draco and he let out a sad smile as he watched her chest rise and fall beneath the blanket, he couldn't protect her. No matter how hard he tried. H glared out the window at the sun.

"Draco?" a childlike voice called, quiet and soft, the blonde turned to face the girl who now sat up straight rubbing her eyes trying to rid them of sleep. "is everything okay?" she tilted her head and he felt as if his heart just exploded. "Nothing, Merry Christmas"

****

They had a calm Christmas and an even more quiet few days after that, living in fear, one wrong move would have landed them in the cellar. (Name) was curled up against the window Dorian her cat, lying beside her. Draco's hand ran through the cat's fur as he stared off into space, a few more hours and they would be at 'home' as (name) had referred to it. Draco looked ill, his skin pale deep bags underneath his eyes and (name) in fact looked worse, she had nightmares about William, the burning of the burrow and all those nights she had spent in the cellar. She shivered at the thought before turning her focus back to the scenery as the train chugged forward.

***

Draco and (name) wends their way through the towering shelves, Draco removes the tapestry and faces the gleaming cabinet. He reaches into his coat and carefully removes a white bird. (name) takes a sharp intake of breath. Holding it in one hand, he studies it, gently stroking its feathers with the other. For a moment, he seems lost in the activity, lost in the bird's coal-black eyes, its bobbing head. Then, gently, he places it in the cabinet and closes the door. Waits. When he opens the cabinet, the bird is gone. He closes the cabinet once more.  (name) peers over his shoulder intrigued on what is going to happen.

A feather, white and gleaming, clings to the cuff of his jacket. He takes it, turns it in the light. It is fragile, translucent. He looks briefly lost again, then blinks, turns back to the cabinet, slowly reaches out and opens it. The bird is there. Dead. (Name) lets out a small whimper and Draco turns to her tears glistening in his steely grey orbs as he sniffles.

Draco was nothing more than a school bully, that was the first time he ever killed anything, injured anything in fact. (Name) hops off the sets of boxes she was perched upon observing before pulling the boy into a hug. He dropped his head onto hers as he began to sob, quietly at first, but slowly, sobs became heart-wrenching wails as he clung to the (h/c)ette, gasping for air. Draco Malfoy was now, completely and utterly broken. "I didn't mean to kill it!" he cries dropping to the floor, (name) toppling with him. "It's okay" she stroked his head trying to give him some sort of comfort in the predicament they were both set into, and at that moment something dawned on (name)

The two had been set up to fail.