I am a Riddle | Draco Malfoy, 18+

T h i r t y - s e v e n,

He let me down right inside of his door, closing it shut behind us, '' I shouldn't be here, it's—,''

'' But something brought you here, didn't it?'' He bites back, towering over me as my eyes leveled his bare chest, the toned muscles flexing of the heavy breathing, the porcelain skin paler than ever — his skin looked beaten, his body thin, and even if it shouldn't, the look of him, his worn figure, caused my heart to ache,

My eyes flickered up to his, eyelashes battling, '' It did, but it's not—,'' I chewed my lower lip in hesitation, making his eyes to roll impatiently, '' I wanted to ask you something,'' Blue eyes narrowed in mine, jaws slightly tensing as he stood close,

'' Go ahead,''

I felt my fingers twitch, nails boring into my palms as he eyed me down, holding tall in front of me, '' Is it true, what your mother said, that we—,'' I cleared my throat, still unsure to if I should be talking to him about this, because if this was how Narcissa described it to be — he was suffering, he had to be in so much pain for being this close to me, yet so far away, he loved me, and I disappeared from his life, just like that.

He walked into me on the stairs yesterday, hopeful to see me again, excited to have me back, only to find out that I failed him, that I let him go, without giving him the chance to explain it,

'' Do I love you, Draco?''

The tensed look fell, his shoulders sunken, the bravery in his eyes burned out,

Silence, complete silence except for the heavy breaths between us. He looked at me like he'd seen someone that he hadn't met in years, a glimpse of hope sparked within the ashen skin, '' I like to believe that you did,'' He tore the blue eyes away, taking steps back,

'' I hope you did,''

'' I hope you still do,'' Draco mumbled underneath his breath, sending me the guiltiest of glares, '' I did something horrible, Leiah,'' He shook his head, blonde strands of hair fell over his eyebrows as his spine rested against the wall,

I didn't know what to say, what to do, even how to breathe at this point. The reality of this was clouding; the fact that these words are spoken by the boy I believed to hate was too much, but even then — my blood flushed, the need of knowing more triggered within,

'' Do you love me?'' I whispered, seeking for him to look at me, '' I mean, did you love me?'' His eyes snapped to mine without delay, his back forced off the wall as he quickly stepped back up to me, holding only inches away — the blue hues lightly prickled in tears,

His eyes,

I fell lost in them, without hesitancy,

'' I did, and I still do,''

I felt my jaw shaking, my insides bending, the sinking feeling washed heavily over me, nearly flinching by the cold hand brushing against my cheek, '' You don't remember this now, but we...''

Draco sighed, the air around us thickened as he cupped my cheek, letting my head rest in his hold, '' We had something—, something I can't even begin to explain, but we will get it back, no matter what it takes. I can't lose you,''

''I promise you that,''

I wanted to think about all of this as lies, but this, right here — was the most honest, most sincere I had ever seen Draco act with me, he loves me, and he will do anything to get me back, '' Why?'' I asked again, my words left in stutters, '' Why did I do this, Draco? If I loved you so much, why would I ever take you away?''

His eyes bored through mine, his breaths slightly hitched at my question, he shifted uncomfortably, nearly frightened to tell me why — why I gave up on something that seemed so pure, so raw, so real,