64

Anything.

I knew I had to keep that promise to Gwen. I knew I had to, and I knew I would.

As I wandered along the dark corridors, nothing but occasional moonlight illuminating my way, I wondered how I would. How, if I had exhausted every ounce of my resources to the point of having no plan at all, but waiting?

Would I have enough time to wait?

Would He do worse to my sister as time went on?

I shook my head at the thought, a sickly feeling forming in my stomach before it went on to crawl up my throat and spread through my entire body. My gaze was pointed at the floor, watching my feet take one step after the other rather than roaming the empty corridors.

It helped me focus my thoughts, organise them and stay calm while I forced my attention onto each and every step I took to keep my mind from wandering. It's why walking the halls at night had become a kind of coping.

Something soothing in the sense. Something that had the possibility to ease the worn mind I seemed to possess these days. It wasn't easy. I never believed it would be.

Though, I halted in my steps at the sound of a seemingly heavy door opening, the noise echoing through the castle in a way you'd think you'd still be able to hear it down in the dungeons.

It made my head snap upwards, eyes taking in my surrounding to figure out where my absent mind had brought me. I shouldn't be surprised when I recognised it to be the seventh floor, the sound coming from my left.

I shouldn't have been surprised to see Draco, either.

There weren't many people who wandered the halls at night as frequently as I did. He — on the other hand — was one of them. So, seeing him silently exit the room, the loud door being the source of the sound, I couldn't say I didn't expect it to be him.

Somehow, he was always there.

I didn't feel like sneaking around, following where he was going and what he was doing from the shadows. Though, I knew what it meant whenever he spent time in the room of requirements.

And every day he was in there, he got closer and closer to executing his plan. I couldn't let that happen; not ever, and especially not after my conversation with Gwen.

I promised to keep my word. I promised, and I would.

"What are you doing?" The words simply slipped out, had him halt in his movement— freeze completely for a few seconds. And then his head turned over his shoulder; his eyes widened slightly as he took a deep breath at the sight of me.

He tended to do that, to look at me with that burning glint in his eyes—something filled with desire, seeping with comfort.

He didn't say anything, head falling back as he took a moment to assess the situation. His Adam's apple bopped when he swallowed thickly.

"Adreanna," He acknowledged with a nod, his eyes flickering back and forth between the door and me, even after I took slow steps towards him.

My name fell from his lips without heed. It was a strange thing — hearing as he said it so effortlessly. It took him a long time to do so; to get to the tipping point of him saying something as simple as my name without discomfort.

My gaze followed his to see him hesitantly close the door behind him, regret in his eyes as he did so. Instead of answering my question, though, he shook his head gently— even huffed a few times in sarcastic amusement.

I sighed.

"You fixed it, didn't you?" I wondered, my voice low. His head cocked in my direction abruptly, searching my face with desperation in his eyes as he tried to figure out what I knew. "The cabinet?"

Seeps of silence, almost a never-ending one; that's all I got from him. Silence as his face fell in recognition. When he realised I knew what he was doing, and what he was planning, and that he had succeeded. His reaction told me all I needed to know.

"How do you—?"

"Come on, Draco," I huffed, shaking my head as I came to a halt before him. "You know I'm smart— I have my ways."

He only shook his head, throwing a last glance at the closed door behind him before setting off to who knew where. I followed him to find out— continued my questioning until he'd give me an answer I'd be satisfied with.

"Go on then; what's your grand plan?" I wondered, following his fast pace down the corridor. "You've been working on this for months, you must be eager to brag."

My words only coerced a dry laugh out of him, his head shaking as he continued his way down a flight of stairs. Though, I was persistent— continued asking.

"Who are you bringing?" Was one of the many questions falling from my lips, and I felt a reaction in his steps; felt them stiffen as his body tensed. "That's what you're using the cabinet for, right?" Again, no words escaped his mouth. "Or is it to escape? Is that it?"

That's when he stopped, right at the bottom of the Astronomy Tower. A groan escaped his lips, letting himself fall against the cobbled wall behind him with his head in his hands.

Dropping them back to the side of his body, he blurted out, "It's been done for a while, damn it—" cutting himself off when it was too late already.

His words took me by surprise, my brows furrowing at them in plain confusion as my lips parted slightly in the same manner. I shook my head, swallowing thickly before speaking to him again.

"So why would you—?"

"—Wait?" He quickly cut off, finishing the question I started and seemingly just as puzzled about it as I was. "I don't know, Adreanna. I have no fucking clue—" Once more, he cut himself off with a groan, his tone growing more aggravated, brows furrowing whenever he threw me a glance.

"Waited—" The words sounded foreign out of my own mouth as I repeated them in a whisper, not fully understanding the context or severity that came with them.

Voice nothing more than a croaked whisper aimed at myself, my eyes batted open to look at him, leaned against the cold stone wall mere steps away from me. His previously neatly laid hair was a mess— dishevelled as he looked at me intently.

And his nose scrunched up before he took a deep breath.

"I can't wait any longer," He said, genuinely seeming regretful. "I'm sorry."

My breath hitched at the words, hands playing with the sleeves of my shirt to calm my nerves. I took another step towards him, unintentionally trembling as I did so.

"Sorry?" I almost scoffed, suddenly remembering who stood mere inches away from me— who I was talking to. Draco Malfoy wasn't sorry. Never had been and never would be.

"I truly am, Adreanna."

I shook my head vigorously at the strange words. "Why would you be—?"

"It's time."

It suddenly hurt to speak. It felt as if daggers ripped through my throat at every breath taken. I swallowed thickly, neglecting the feeling. A kind of finality in his statement I wasn't comfortable with.

Not up until then did I remember what I had promised my sister— didn't make the connection to how it might affect this: him and I.

Of course, it would. I was just too naive to see it— had made the conscious decision to blind myself in hopes I might never have to see.

It was all he said, a bittersweet smile on his lips as he did so.

And by the look of it, he knew what would follow— knew what I had to do, now that he told me.

In a way, I wish he hadn't.

I wished he'd stay quiet. I had pleaded within the coat of my own skin that he wouldn't say something like it. Not that it mattered, it wouldn't to someone like him — still, that was all my mind urged.

Though everything he'd done, every harsh word, every foul act — this was the one thing I wished had never left his mouth. 

A/N: EEEEK I'm so nervous.

There's gonna be a sneak peak of the last chapter posted on my Instgram (seselinamae) before it goes online! SO make sure to follow me so that you don't miss it. <3

Thoughts? How are we feeling? 

See you tomorrow. :) <3