The Buddy System. *Updating In Process*

Letters

"I can do it, you don't have to." I blushed. She shouldn't feel like she needs to work while she is here.

"Oh my dear, this is what I am good at. I enjoy cleaning." She sighed happily. 

"Well only if you are sure."

She kissed the top of my head. Something that my mother used to do to me all the time. It was strange I never gave much thought to it before but I realise now it is something that I dearly missed.

I headed out of the kitchen and up the stairs to my own bedroom. My room (the main room of the house) was in a very small tower-like part of the house. As such my ceiling had giant exposed beams and was very high and came to a point from which hung a very large candelabra. The greywood floors were what really sold the house for me. I adored my room. I changed into my pyjamas, brushed my teeth and washed my face before heading to bed. I was just about to climb in when there was a wrapping at the window.

It was an owl. A school owl if I am not mistaken.

I opened the window and the beautiful creature held out its leg for me. I unwrapped the scroll and before I could even blink the bird took off and headed for the oak tree in my garden. No doubt to wait for a response.

I unwrapped the parchment. "Draco," I smiled.

My love,
Theo is driving me crazy looking to receive news of Azaleah. I assume by now that she has arrived? I may kill him before he gets to your house.
I hope you had the reunion you wanted. One you deserved. 
I am sure she is happy to be with you in your home. It was such a kind thing to do, offering your home to her like that. Not that I expected any less from you. You are the kindest soul I have ever met.
Will you write to Theo to tell him how she is before I strangle him?
Mother tells me she has volunteered to be a guard for Azaleah. I daresay this means you will probably see her before I do. I do hope she doesn't embarrass me!

Bleu is enjoying himself. He is currently lying up by the fire in the dorm room snoring. I promise I will take him home with me and pass him to you when I see you next. 

At present, I am unsure of when that would be. I had planned to make you come to Malfoy Manor for Christmas dinner with me and my family but I assume now you will not want to leave your house, which I completely understand.
I would like to visit over the holidays if I am allowed. I do not know if you need to ask a Ministry official for permission first?
I cannot bear to be apart from you for three whole weeks I will go mental.
I also need to tell you about my run-in with that guy who was with the Minister last night. But it is the kind of gossip I must tell you in person. You will not believe it. I am still furious about it!
I hope you are missing me as much as I am missing you. 
I hope to hear from you soon.
All my love 
Draco xxx

His penmanship is just as beautiful as he is. He was too perfect for words in my opinion. Of course, a letter like this deserves a response.

My Dearest Draco,
What a silly question asking me if I am missing you. Of course, I am. How could I not? 

You are right of course, I do not want to leave Azaleah during the holidays but you are always welcome to come and stay with me. Please say yes as I too will not be able to cope if I have to wait 3 weeks to see you again.
Azaleah is...fragile. She is terribly skinny and pale but hopefully after enough sleep and a few good meals that will start to change.
She is still quite nervous and scared but she is talking finally which is more than I could have hoped for this early. She is excited to see Theo tomorrow. I don't think it will seem real to her until she can hold him in her arms.
Your mother will be here tomorrow I think. There is a rota created for all the volunteers. Your mother, Andromeda, Mrs Weasley, a few Aurors and Lucas as well. 
I am not too happy about the last one but Kinsley said that he worked wonders with some of the battle victims so I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. But I will be keeping a close eye on him just in case.
I wish you were here. My bed feels very empty without you in it. Will you come here? Please? I would love that! It's my home, I don't need permission for people to visit...I don't think. You should see if you can get when Theo's coming?
I love you and will be thinking of you.
Always.
Raelyn xxx

I thought it might be best to write to Theo personally so Draco didn't end up hexing him. 

Theo,
Draco told me that you were worried about Azaleah.
I would never lie to you Theo, so you should know that she looks...broken. She was very quiet and fragile when she first arrived but we had Mrs Weasley here to help us get settled. She is a saint! She helped Azaleah shower and get herself washed and cleaned and I even gave her your hoodie to wear which seemed to soothe her. 
She is skin and bone so we made sure she got a good meal in her before we helped her to bed. She needs a good night's sleep. 
My heart breaks every time I see her. I think I will have nightmares about the way she looked when she arrived here. I am glad you weren't here to see it. It would have been too much for you too. 
She is very much looking toward to seeing you tomorrow. She couldn't quite believe that she gets to hold you again. She really has missed you.
It's going to be a tough few days as she settles in and adjusts to this new routine. I hope that she knows how loved she is by us all. 
There are quite a few volunteers who have offered to stay here with her and help her to readjust. And Kingsley has given us special permission to go home at the weekends next term to spend time with her. 
Now, I know you and I know you are probably pacing the dorm room right now, wide awake and bussing at the thought of being with your girl. But your girl right now, is sleeping peacefully and you need to get some sleep too or you will be of no use to her tomorrow when she needs you.
SO PUT THE LETTER DOWN AND GO THE FUCK TO SLEEP!
I love you!
Rae xxxx

I went to the window and waited as the large bird flew back to me and stuck out his leg. "If you need to rest before flying back you can. I don't mind." The bird fluffed its feathers importantly and then took off. I watched as it soared over the tree and off into the night. I guess it wasn't hungry then.

I was about to head to bed when I heard whimpering. It was coming from Azaleah's room. The whimpering turned to shouts. I took off running out of my room, Mrs Weasley hot on my heels on the stairs.

We burst into Azaleah's room to see her flailing about the bed. Her face contorted in pain and beads of sweat trickling down her face.

"Please...no...please...I beg you," she shouted.  She writhed again in her bed. She was clearly still sleeping. 

"It must be a night terror," Mrs Weasley whispered as she sat on the bed and moved Azaleah's hair out of her face. "It's alright Azaleah. It's alright. You are safe."

"No...you can't hurt her. Stop! Come back! You can't hurt her!" She screamed and bolted upright in the bed. She opened her eyes with a look of pure terror.

"It's alright Azaleah. It was just a bad dream," Mrs Weasley soothed.

Azaleah lay back down but she had tears in her eyes. She was shaken. Whatever this dream was it was bad. I knew she wouldn't want to talk about it. I knew she probably wouldn't even remember it. So instead I opened the covers and got into bed beside her. She turned to face me and cuddled in. I wrapped my arms around her, lightly. I was afraid I would break her. 

She had clearly been through more than I could even imagine. She had experienced true horrors and it hurt my heart to see her so broken. I wanted to fix it. To make the pain all go away and yet I knew I couldn't. No one could. She had to overcome this on her own. Sure I could be there to show her my love and support but it was down to her and her alone.

But that didn't stop me from feeling like I had failed her. I wasn't there to support her. I wasn't there to watch over her I wasn't there for her when she needed me the most. But by Merlin and his mother, I was going to be from now on.

Mrs Weasley continued to soothe her, playing with her hair and humming. I don't know how she knew that Azaleah liked her hair played with but she did. Within minutes Azaleah had drifted back to sleep and I wasn't long behind her.