The Slytherin Queen- A Draco x Oc Love Story

Chapter 64 Attempt Number Two

"I-I can't go.."

"You must Stephanie. He wants to speak to you." Snape said.

"N-No I can't!" Snape dragged the girl to the meeting. She slowly sat down next to Draco.

"Hello Stephanie. I see you're not wearing the locket.."

"Potter stole it from me.. I tried to get it back, but they disappeared."

"And the girl?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Weasley. What happened to her and the other prisoners."

"They left with Potter.."

"You have failed me Stephanie."

"How is it my fault that they escaped!?"

"Do not raise your voice at him!" A death eater said.

"Oh shut the hell up! You basically need me. You can't kill me. If you kill me you may never know the outcome of this war."

"She's right, my lord."

"That doesn't mean we can't punish her for failing us." Stephanie ran from the meeting. "Get her Draco." Stephanie ran up to the top floor. She got onto a balcony and went towards the edge. She looked down and all she saw were thorn bushes.

"Steph.."

"Draco. You gonna turn me in?"

"No. Of course not."

"Well if you turn up empty handed.."

"It'll be fine.."

"He'll kill you. He shows no mercy."

"It's fine. As long as you're alive."

"No. I refuse to let you die." She got onto the railing of the balcony.

"Get down from there! You can hurt yourself." Stephanie saw as death eaters appeared behind Draco.

"I refuse to die to Voldemort or his death eaters. I refuse to get tortured by him or his death eaters. I rather die to myself than that. Goodbye Draco."

"Stephanie wai-" She fell backwards off the balcony, into the thorn bushes. However, the thorn bushes are the reason that she is still alive. She opened her eyes, expecting to be in some sort of heaven, but was greeted with dark clouds. She sighed and tried to get up. "Stephanie!" Draco said as he rushed to her; he apparated down to the girl. He helped her out of the bush, pricking himself once in a while. "Why would you do that?"

"I've lost it Draco. I can't do this anymore. I just want to feel free and meet my family again." Draco hugged the bloody girl.

"It's ok Steph."

"I'm sorry.. I love you Draco. Goodbye." She apparated to the roof of Malfoy Manor. She looked down and there were no bushes this time. She took her suicide note out of her pocket and held it to her chest.

"I'm coming Layla." She jumped off the roof, hitting the cold concrete. The last thing she saw was Narcissa's contorted face.

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"She needs to stop with this. It's becoming a real problem. Draco I thought you were gonna watch her." Stephanie heard voices but couldn't see their faces. She connected the voices to names since she can tell them a part.

"I did.. and I thought she would be fine alone. She wasn't alone when she jumped the first time though. I was there trying to stop her... and then she just jumped. She survived that time and I was trying to comfort her, so she wouldn't do it again, and then she apparated. Then this happened." Draco said.

"This can't happen again." Snape said. "She needs to be protected at all costs. Draco obviously can't fulfill his job correctly-"

"I'll do it. Just let me try again. I'll protect her at any costs. I'll put my life on the line for her." Draco said. He sounded serious.

"Well what if she's actually dead?" Lucius asked.

"There's a pulse." Stephanie didn't recognize this voice. "She'll be fine."

"Thank Merlin." Draco said. Stephanie finally opened her eyes.

"Stephanie.." Narcissa said.

"You really need to stop. Can't you see? You're hurting everyone around you!" Draco screamed at the girl.

"It's not my fault I'm facing severe depression!"

"You're not the only one! You need to stop for our sake! Stop for me! Stop for Snape! We all love you and need you. I can't deal with this anymore." Draco left the room.

"She needs her rest.." The unidentified voice said. She looked to the person speaking and assumed it was a doctor.

"I'll stay. I'll clean her cuts and bruises." Narcissa said.

"It's fine Narcissa."

"No I insist." Everyone left the room except for Narcissa. She sat down next to the girl, tears in her eyes. She began cleaning her cuts with a towel and a bucket of water. "I do worry about you, dear. I worry about your safety as well."

"I know, Cissy."

"Then why? Why do you do this to us?"

"I... I just wanna be with mother and Layla and Uncle John and Aunt Melissa."

"I know dear. One day you will. However, now is not the time. We need you Stephanie. I need you. Snape needs you. Draco especially needs you. He loves you. Both of us are the reason that he's alive. He's suicidal.."

"What?"

"He's been depressed lately. He's been cutting and crying himself to sleep. He's worried sick about you and I. We're the only reason that he's alive. If he loses one of us.. I fear he may harm himself even more. This is why he needs you. Be alive for him, for his sake."

"Why hasn't he told me this?"

"He doesn't want to burden you."

"I don't care if he burdens me! I care about his health! This isn't healthy.. I'll stop Narcissa. I promise. I'll stop for him and father and for you."

"Thank you dear. Are you feeling any better?"

"Yeah.. It just hurts a little.."

"You can walk on your own?"

"I think."

"Whenever you have the chance, please talk to Draco."

"I'll do it now."

"Thank you, dear." Stephanie got up. She was in a lot of pain, but she didn't care. All she wanted to do was see Draco. She made her way over to his room and knocked.

"Draco.."

"Come in." Stephanie entered his room, closing his door. Her eyes became watery.

"I'm so sorry Draco. I'll stop I promise. I won't do it anymore. Why didn't you tell me you've been cutting?"

"What?"

"Let me see your arm."

"I haven't been cutting."

"Narcissa said you were.." She sat next to him on his bed. "Show me your arm." Draco remained silent. Stephanie grabbed his arm and rolled up his sleeve to reveal cuts. There were a few that have been made recently. "Draco.. I'm so sorry." She hugged him tightly.

"I didn't want to stress you."

"You don't stress me Dray. I love you and care about you. I promise I'll stop."

"Thank you." The two held each other for many minutes. Stephanie has made up her mind. She's staying.