𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒫𝓇ℴ𝓂𝒾𝓈ℯ𝒹 𝒪𝓃ℯ | 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐲 |

#12 Childhood Crush

The corridor was empty and cold, mirroring my core almost perfectly and standing in deep contrast to the warmth and secure atmosphere I almost felt in the presence of my friends.

I had let Harry and Blaise stand in the hall to follow Professor Snape and Draco outside.

I knew I shouldn't had spy on them, probably because I was seriously afraid that I could hear something I don't want to hear.

The thought that there wouldn't be something to overhear, that the professor would simply guide the boy back to the dungeons, maybe giving him detention, was quickly discarded.

Right as I was hiding behind the corner of a wall, my shoes removed to not make a sound, my feet cold, I heard a shoving sound right before Draco's voice.

„Maybe I hexed the Bell girl, maybe I didn't, what's it to you.", he said with a playful indifference, even though I saw right through it.

Maybe he did it. Maybe he did cursed her. Maybe Harry was right.

The sound of a body crushing against a wall rung through the empty halls, echoing over. It seemed as if the walls tried to help me understand what was going on.

„I swore to protect you! I made the unbreakable vow!" Snape's voice startled me by the hissing and emotional sound in it. Too many feelings he showed in the attempt to hide it.

„I don't need protection.", Draco's voice pressed out, the sound of fabric ruffling as the boy quickly squirmed himself out of his teacher's grip. "I was chosen for this. Out of all the others: me!"

I closed my eyes in the attempt to hear more, to imagine the boy's face in front of my inner eye. His scared, startled and exhausted face.

„I won't fail him, I won't let him die. And I won't fail her."

My heart stopped for a second, trying to figure out what he was talking about.

„You're afraid, Draco. And you can't handle that on your own.", Snape assured him, the demanding tone in his voice replaced by as much compassionate the man was capable of.

„Yes, I can and I will.", the blonde pressed between gritted teeth, pushing the man back right as I managed to bring up the courage to squint around the corner.

Draco's suit was distorted, probably by the grip the professor had on him. His hair was ruffled, messy. His face even more of a beautiful mess than that.

"You need to remember who she is. You know what he's trying to do with her. I can't let this happen.", Snape gestured and paced nearer again, standing in front of the boy just a few inches away. His eyes pierced down, pleading to make him believe his words.

„And I won't let it happen.", Draco spat at him.

His protective self was almost flattering, but if that meant that he was suffering like that, I would decline in not more than a second.

„Draco, you forget, the Dark Lord trusts me. I know everything about your task, about why you're doing this and what he had planned for her, especially if it's true what is almost undeniable after she blocked it with no effort. Are you aware of that?"

The Dark Lord trusts me?

Draco looked down on his hands, battling his own fight, mirrored in his features. But his eyes were hard as soon as he looked up and at Professor Snape again.