Love and Power

{9} The Lioness

It wasn't long before students started filing into the large room and finding seats at the tables. Staff members sat at their seats in the front of the room. Then Draco, followed by Crabbe and Goyle, entered the room.

Draco ordered his two goons to find a seat for the three of them down the table with everyone else, but he sat in front of me for the time being. And spoke to me. Snape hadn't entered yet. So Draco was probably taking advantage of that.

"Ana, I have so many questions. I miss you. What did you mean you can't see me anymore?"

"I can't see you anymore. I can't be with you, Draco," I said, my voice faltering in my throat. It came out soft and faint. I felt tears stinging my eyes. If he didn't leave now I was going  to have some kind of breakdown. "Please. Just- just leave. You're making this so much harder on me."

"No, not until I know what happened," He scoffed. He leaned forward and lifted my chin with his finger. "Ana, please. You- you're supposed to come to me with things. Why are you hiding everything from me? I want to help you."

I stood up. "You can't. I can't be with you anymore."

"No!" He yelled, making me freeze in place. "You can't leave me and not tell me why! Ana you-," His voice cracked. "You're going to kill me. Please."

I came around the table, grabbed his shirt collar, kissed him one last time, and left. I left the Great Hall and raced to the girls' bathroom.

I shut myself behind a door in a stall and broke down. I looked down at the mark on my arm and grew to hate myself in that moment.

"Ana?" A voice spoke suddenly. "I know you and I haven't ever gotten along but-"

"Go away, Granger."

"Listen," Hermione started. "I know you hate me. I know we've never had any toleration for each other. But I can tell when someone is in over there head. You need a friend. I want to help. If you'll let me."

I opened the stall door. "What do you think you could do to help me?"

"Let you vent," She held up a glass. "It's a calming draught. I mean no harm."

"I guess if you poisoned it all of this will be over," I took it and drank all of it. Hermione softly sighed. "I just have a lot going on."

"Where did you go when you left?"

"I met my father. At Malfoy Manor," I blurted. "I was scared. Especially since it was without Draco."

"So the rumor is true then? About the abuse?"

"Yeah," I rubbed my arm nervously. "I didn't want to go back without Draco."

"Speaking of, Draco," She started. "What happened with both of you? Didn't you two hate each other?"

"Yeah. Until his parents and my father said they arranged for us to get married."

"Arranged marriage? To preserve the bloodline right?"

"Yeah. That and something about it's for our protection. They wouldn't tell us why."

Why the hell am I telling her this? I don't trust her. I'm not supposed to trust her.

She put Veritaserum in my glass! I have to leave before I say too much. I have to leave.

"Protection from who?"

"I'm sorry. I have to leave."

I left the bathroom. Immediately. I didn't know where to go. Or what to do. Or who to go to.