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Draco's Choice

Chapter 10

I apologise for the huge gap between chapters, however this seems to be a recurring theme and I cant see a way of producing chapters any quicker than I currently am due to college work and other aspects of my life.

I am so thankful for all the readers that liked my stories, reviewed and followed me as an author. Thanks again, and on with Draco and Viola's tale…

Viola

The thumping in my head wouldn't cease no matter which way I turned it and the dull, hot throb in my shoulder flared up whenever I moved. My whole body felt as if I'd pulled every muscle, ran and marathon and was trampled by a herd of Thestrals. My heavy lids were sticky with tears and sleep residue, but I forced them open. I could hear a frantic conversation to my right.

"Quiet down! All of you." Said a stern voice in a harsh whisper. The voice belonged to Ginny and I relaxed slightly, glad I was no longer in the Carrow's captivity. But then I remembered who had saved me.

"You all need to leave before any of the Professors come and look for you." Draco said.

"I'm not leaving Vi with the likes of you!" Another voice spat, I placed it as Neville Longbottom's.

"Well, Longbottom, the 'likes of me' saved Viola! I didn't see you coming up with a master plan to get her back." Draco hissed and I felt him move towards me.

I sensed he had stopped by my bed and was leaning over me, I felt a cool, long fingered hand press against my forehead, and then gently stroke my cheek. I tried to maintain my breathing but I'm sure Draco sensed my quick intake of breath. The hand left my face and I felt him move away.

"Look, her temperature has gone down, so has the swelling to her shoulder and eye. I need to perform some more healing spells and then give her a few potions. But I need space and a bit of time and to get that, I need all of you to cover for both of us. This isn't about me anymore; it's about Viola's safety. She doesn't have any family left and we need to protect her." Draco's speech left everyone silent for a moment.

"Don't play innocent Draco. Whose fault is it that she doesn't have any family? You and the rest of those bloody Death Eaters killed her family! Why should we trust you?" Ginny snarled and I could tell she was squaring up to Draco.

More silence ensued.

"You have no reason to trust me," Draco finally spoke up, "but all you need to know is that, when Viola needed me the most, I wasn't there. When her life was is ruins I tried to help her from afar. I've been following her, shadowing her, since the school term started. I've been trying to make it up to her. I failed her, and I am trying to rectify that." Draco trailed off.

"Why do you love her, Draco?" Luna's soft, sweet voice floated into my ears, I had almost forgotten she was there. Wait. Love?

That's like saying, why are you friends with her? Just look at her." I hear him shift as he gestures towards my sleeping form. "She draws people in. Its not her eyes, but the way she sees things, and the way she can see into you and knows when you're not telling the truth, the look on her face makes you want to tell the truth." Draco pauses, sighs and then continues. "The first time I met her, I was meant to be meeting Voldemort. It was after curfew and I was in such a panic. Then, I crashed into this person. This soft, and lovely person, and I had hurt her. I had never felt remorse for anything before, except perhaps what happened to Professor Dumbledore. But when Viola whimpered, it shook me to my very core and I felt awful. Once she had recovered I looked into her eyes and I didn't want to be nasty anymore. She keeps me in place; she makes me question everything I do. I don't know when I fell in love with her, it sort of snuck up on me, like she did. So don't question why I love her. Ask me how I could not." Draco finishes and walks over to me again.

"I think Viola will be alright here for a night or two, permitting that it's ok with her." Luna says softly and shuffles Neville out the door.

"I've still got my eye on you Malfoy." Ginny says as she stalks over to me and kisses my forehead. "Hurry up and get better." She whispers before I hear her leave the room.

I hear the door slam and Draco sits on the side of the bed.

"You can stop pretending now, Viola."

Draco

I'm trying to gauge her reaction as she slowly sits up from my bed. Her short, curly locks are in an unruly mess on the top her head. Her eyebrow had split open in the attack and I had hastily sealed it together with a few spells. Her shoulder was dipped in pain and she was eyeing me warily.

"Was what you- Did… did you mean what you said?" Viola stumbled over her words, her huge eyes staring at me.

"Every word." I reply and look down at my hands.

Her small hand gently takes mine and she pulls me to her side. We are sitting flush against each other, shoulder-to-shoulder, hip-to-hip. I carefully kick my shoes off and climb under the covers.

"What happened to my family Draco?" She whispers and looks up at me.

"I don't think I should-"

"Please. I need to know."

"I…I had been given orders by You Know Who to stage a attack on a Muggle family. We were to go to the house, a few Death Eaters were to go inside and set it on fire while I waited outside. Once the job had been done I sent to Dark Mark into the sky." I finished and held my breath.

"So you didn't set it on fire?" Viola asked as big, fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

I shook my head. No.

"Did you see any of my family? Did you see any of them in pain?" Her voice hitched and she squeezed my hand in desperation.

"I didn't see any of them, but the killing curse was used on them. They didn't burn to death." I knew this because one of the Death Eater novices was bragging about his first kill being Viola's sister.

Viola nodded and I held her until her tears subsided.

"Thank you for saving me from the Carrows." She whispered once things had quieted down.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat." I said and kissed her hair.

In that moment, that small, precious moment I held the girl I loved as she fell asleep, and it was perfect.

Thanks again for reading and bearing with me. Please review and tell me what you think should be included in the final battle, the reuniting of Viola and the Golden Trio and what should happen after everything has settled.

Annabelle xoxo