I am a Riddle | Draco Malfoy, 18+

T h i r t y,

Similar to what mother always used to say,

" Soulmates are more than just lovers,"

And she was, she lived to be more than everything,

My soul chose hers, and a soul tends to never forget that.

Her life paralleled mine in the most perfect of ways, and without her, nothing would ever shine the same again,

My tears poured as I felt her small body turn cold in mine, her chest stopped heaving, her pale skin faded further,

And that was it,

She was gone — and it was all my fault. I was supposed to protect her, and I didn't. I failed her, and I would live to pay the price for doing so.

My sobs echoed loud throughout the room, hushing the arguments behind me as I held onto her. I wasn't ready to let her go. How would I ever be able to let her weak, vulnerable body go? I wanted to keep her in my arms forever, dead or alive.

I wished to look into her eyes for eternity, to feel the safety and comfort she always granted me, to be alongside her wherever that sought to be,

" Draco," Lucius snarled, his voice broke through my numbness, making me flinch back to look at the men standing behind me, " Make her stop. The dark lord will return any minute now,"

Draco stood frozen. He merely looked at his father, his insides broke for me, his mind clouded by my loss, and he felt my pain, in a way he had never done before,

" Draco, now." His father hissed again as I felt Draco's cold hands wrapping around my waist, trying to pry me off my deceased best friend,

Iced fingers dug into my flesh as he pulled me into his chest, lifting me from the floor, " No, no please," I begged through tears, " Please. I can't leave her,"

" I promised not to leave her,"

My head fell into the crook of his neck, seeking comfort as he hugged me closer, " We won't. We won't leave her, I promise." He mumbled into my head before letting me down on my feet,

His hands flew to my cheeks, cupping them in a way only he did, " But I can not lose you. You have to keep yourself together, if only for a short while," His thumbs traced circles on my drained skin, wiping the stained tears off, " We won't leave her,"

I found myself lost in his blue eyes, the eyes my heart craved for, melting by the way the blonde strands of hair fell messy over his forehead. He looked exhausted, vein, the dark circles under his eyes stained purple, his skin almost ashen — I knew he played a part in Luna coming here. Still, I couldn't be mad at him. I was in no position to hate him because he was all I had left.

He rested his forehead against mine, feeling the soft skin lightly — this was everything. He was everything.

'' Weakness—,'' My father snaked behind us, causing us to jump feet apart, '' I never cared for weakness —,'' He continued as he strolled closer, embracing us in the coldness following him,

I stayed clear off his eyes, too startled to face him as I felt his wand pushed underneath my chin, arching my head back to level him, '' But now, when one of your fragilities is—, '' He held, peering down at Luna's slain body, a grin raised on his lips while slowly looking back at me, '' Gone — we may do what I brought you here for,''

The frozen blood within me fumed at his words, the way he found joy in her death — the way he mocked me for it. I drew my wand, without hesitation, forcing it into his chest as I met his shocked views,