𝟒𝟖 | 𝑨 𝑵𝑬𝑾 𝑬𝑹𝑨

                                    

                                          
"𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗠𝗘 𝗚𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗦, 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗡'𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗟 that good?" Blaise asks as the two of us walk side by side to our first class.
It's only the first day back from summer break and I've already gotten so many glares and dirty comments from lots of my classmates. Not that it bothers me much, all things considered. Most of the comments are about my father, and they're all right. There won't be a single day in my life that I'll defend my father. And it's getting to the point where I don't know if I can defend my mother, either.
"It honestly sucked, just like always. Though, surprisingly, my father wasn't home."
"You think he was with You-Know-Who?" He asks quietly, and I watch as his eyes dart from left to right in case there's anyone around, lurking in the dark. Snape hasn't done much in the way of headmaster to make the students feel comfortable. Everything is dark and gloomy, and there's an orderly fashion to all of it.
I nod in response to Blaise's question. "Probably. It's really hard being in that house anymore knowing my father has made it very clear that--."
"Lenora Kane." My blood runs cold at the loud voice, filled with authority. I swallow hard and turn on my heel to find two men making their way toward Blaise and I. "You are to come with us."
"But I haven't done anything," I spit, still a bit fearful of what these men can do; they're most definitely death eaters and if they are, there's not a chance I'll follow them because they'll take me straight to Voldemort. "You have no authority over me. You two are neither professors nor the Headmaster."
Without a second thought, one of them grabs hold of my arm tightly, so tightly pain shoots through my body. He doesn't say a word and begins dragging me away with them. I hear Blaise attempt to pry the man's grip from my arm, but the other points his wand threateningly at my friend.
"Get the hell of me!" I shout, struggling against his grip, but it's not use. He's way stronger than I am and all I can think about is my inevitable death. I'm not ready to die yet.
"Let her go! The Dark Lord can't take her, she's under my protection." Draco.
My entire body relaxes as the man stops dragging me away. Pleading eyes turn to the blond boy, whose steel gray eyes are trained on the man holding me. They have a staring contest before the death eater finally gives in and releases me harshly. I gasp slightly and stumble back only to be caught by Draco.
"You better watch yourself, kid," one of them hisses before they both storm away, leaving the three of us alone in the corridor. I let out a sigh of relief as Draco helps me steady myself.
Sending a glare in the direction of the two men, I hiss, "Scumbags."
Thankfully they don't hear me, and even if they do, they don't turn around to acknowledge me. I straighten out my robes before turning to Draco and sending him a small smile.
"Thank you, Draco."
"I told you, as long as I'm with you, neither Voldemort nor your father can touch you."
"You two are okay with all of this?" Blaise's question rings in my head, making both Draco and I turn to him. He's staring at us with a foreign look in his eyes. "Lenora, if Draco hadn't showed up, you'd be on your way to Voldemort, or dead."
"It's complicated, Blaise," Draco states, basically telling him to back off. I give the blond boy a look and he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, why don't you go on ahead of us, alright? I'll send Lenora your way when I'm finished. Tell Snape what happened, he'll understand."
Blaise's jaw tightens as he reluctantly continues on his way to class, leaving Draco and I alone in the corridor. Neither of us speak a word as the boy takes my hand and begins leading me further and further into the castle; it's only until we acend a flight of stairs do I realize he's taking me to the clock tower. And I let him.
We stop at the top, looking out over the school grounds. Draco doesn't stop for a moment because he's suddenly facing me, both his hands gripping my shoulders.
"I want you to leave your father's house during Christmas break."
I stare at him in shock. "This is... Sudden. Why? Is something wrong?"
"I hate that I can't protect you when you're there, Lenora," he answers truthfully, and it makes my heart hurt. I watch him closely as his eyes fall. "Every single time you go home, I always fear the worst. I think, what if you've been taken? What if your father finally succeeded in turning you or, worse, killing you. I don't want to leave and come back, only to find out you're dead, Lenora. I can't deal with that kind of pain."
"Draco, look at me." He looks up, his eyes full of pain and worry and at least fifty other emotions all at once. Determination sets in as I continue. "I can take care of myself, okay? If worse comes to worst, I'll pack my bags and stay with you. How does that sound?"
He's hesitant but nods anyway. I give him a small smile and pull him into a tight hug, gently rubbing my hand along his back as he wraps his arms around me as well. Draco and I have been through stuff no kid should ever have to go through. We shouldn't have to suffer like this to make our parents happy; we should be able to live how we want, and without fear of one mistep. A mistep that could result in the ends of our lives.
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