'So this is fun...!' Evie laughed, looking around the unused girls bathroom.
'Yeah really fun.' He smiled watching her make her way over to the wash basins and perch herself precariously between two sinks. Draco in a momentary brainwave flipped the locks on the door; smirking at his muggle-like action before wandering over to stand in front of Evie who was beaming a girlish grin,
Looking at her Draco couldn't help but smile, yet at the edge of his lips was the beginning of a grimace as he rubbed at his left forearm, a gesture not all that new.
'What will she think? What will she say? How will I explain?'
Was all he could think of; it actually hurt to think of what may come of this conversation.
'The girls were curious about our exchange...' Evie laughed, watching Draco but feeling a most unusual coolness about him. 'You seem distracted...'
Her questioning statement caught him off guard, as he looked at her, she reached for his cool hand, taking it in her own.
'We have an hour is that long enough to tell me?' She said, her almond eyes meeting his; seeing something almost like pain reflecting in them.
Draco felt a sickness rise in his throat; his stomach was in turmoil as he looked into the face of the girl he loved... yes the girl he loved. As of yet he's never been brave enough to utter the words, his newly found heart had for quite a time known of the truth he couldn't bring himself to utter.
'Tell me, maybe I can help!' She said with urgency.
'No. Never.'His mind shouted. Never can this innocent girl be tarnished by his ancestral darkness.
But she can... and she must know...must know of what lies like a muzzled dragon on his arm.
Placing his other hand on their joint ones; he took a deep, somewhat echoing breath before closing the space between them and resting his forehead against hers; together their hairs looked the very heart of a fire the white head intermingled with the brilliantly sharp flame.
'Eves...' He stumbled on his words, clumsy with his own tongue. 'Eve's please hear me out...please.'
The begging in his tone visibility startled Evie, who looked up at him through her lashes till he met her eyes.
'Your scaring me...' She whispered, her grip on his hand growing tighter and tighter. Her large eyes, looking at him like a doe caught in the headlights; fearful but intrigued by the forever looming light.
Moving his forehead from hers, he leant forward and kissed first her head then her lips, just a soft light brush; a gentle gesture no-one in the castle would believe him capable of. Taking a steadying breath, he pulled his hands back, and stripped off his cloak, before removing his jumper letting both just fall to the floor. Evie watched each garment fall to the floor, her eye huge in her sweet face which was filled with an indescribable mix of emotions. He unbuttoned the cuff on both his arms, just to stall for time. He stared into her eyes, wordlessly pleading her to listen...to just wait and hear the explanation he'd try and give.
'Evie just know something...just remember this okay?'
'Seriously you're really scaring me now...what's wrong?'
'Just know that I love you...' He whispered pulling up his sleeve exposing his forearm before she could utter a single word. The gasp of his declaration turned into a somewhat muted scream, that was released more as a squeak then anything of actual volume. He watched her Ivory skin turn a sickly shade of white, and hand rise up to lie at her throat.
'Oh my...' She breathed softly, her voice shaking.
'Eves...'
'When?'
'When what?'
'When did this happen?'
'I don't know...a week or so...'
'Why didn't you tell me?!'
'What on that thing?'
'A telephone Draco!'
'You can't tell anyone Evie!'
'I couldn't if I wanted to...' Her soft laugh turned into almost a cry.
Both were silent, until Evie taking a steadying breath reached out her hand to Draco, grasping his tight within both of her own.
Draco's exhale was loud enough to echo, as he looked at Evie with utter adoration in his eyes.
'Evie...look this is big I know...'
'Don't.'
'Don't what?'
'Don't do that sugar-coating thing; just tell me straight what does it mean?'
'Hell do I know...you don't know how bad this summer has been...'
They were silent again until again Evie spoke.
'Why you? I get your dad, your aunt...even your mum kind of but why a 16 year old who hasn't left school...marking you with that thingis like waving a red flag at a bull... no matter what if anyone sees that your fucked...'
Draco couldn't help but laugh at her vulgar choice of word, but it was only a second of laughter before he replied with equal severance.
'Mum wasn't exactly pleased and dad... well he still doesn't know...'
'But why you? Family ties and all that but marking you and then throwing you into Dumbledore's protections it doesn't make sense...'
Draco paled, his skin going whiter as the blood drained to his toes, and he tightened his grip on Evie's hands.
'What?' Evie pulled draco closer, so his body was resting against her knees.
'Nothing...just thinking...'
'Don't bullshit me...what is it? You're scared and don't try and hide this you know I can read you like a book!'
'Evie leave it... I shouldn't of showed you this let alone if I was too...'
'Too what?'
'Nothing.' Pulling his hands free, Draco dragged a hand roughly through his hair, pacing a small pathway in front of the wash basins.
'It's not good to lie Draco...'
'I'm not lying to you...God Eves I'm protecting you...the only way I can.'
Evie stood, smoothing down her skirt before walking to Draco; who had quit his pacing and was leaning over an adjacent set of sinks; his knuckles bone white as they gripped the lip of the counter.
Slowly with deliberate slowness she loosened his grip with his left hand; placing a hand in the centre of his chest she pushed him back, using her body as a physical barrier to whatever he saw in that mirror.
Her hands shook slightly as she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face into chest and inhaling a smell that was so very familiar.
'Shush...' She breathed, as she felt his muscles tense. 'We'll be okay.'
'How?' His voice was rough, heavily with what she could only guess to be unshed tears.
'Because we will... we'll work this out. Whatever you see when you look in that mirror, I don't...you aren't your father...you don't have to be like him...'
'How can you stand there looking at me, when you know I'm the monster?'
'Your not that's how. This isnt you, this is your dad and your aunt and the others...you're a victim of...'
'I'm not a victim!' He said sharply.
'So you wanted this?' She pushed him back, feeling anger bubble up inside of her.
'No but I...'
'You what? Stop playing the tough guy, you're not...if you wanted this then I'll walk out that door now because that isn't who I love... yes I love you too! But you see, the draco I love can be mean, nasty, sometimes even cruel but that's just a mask, underneath he's kind, funny, sweet and scared!'
'Even if I am it changes nothing...'
'Oh God Draco! Make up your mind, I'm going to bed let me know what you decide because as much as it would hurt I can't love a guy in denial.'
